Pupil Assessment Issues: A Teacher Educator's Perspective

The purpose of this article is to discuss the problems that effectively prevent secondary physical education teachers from utilizing the theoretically sound pupil assessment practices that are taught in professional preparation courses. After the need for formal, systematic pupil assessment as demonstrated in the professional literature is identified, six critical issues are discussed: a narrow and negative view of assessment, lack of responsibility for learning, the problem of vague and long-term goals, the problem of lack of record keeping, the need for administrative and collegial support, and professional preparation. Suggestions for teacher education focus on making pupil assessment a priority from the beginning to the end of the preparation period, and on weaving assessment practices directly into the teaching process.