The process of teaching leads to the need for an assessment to be carried out. In other words, when learning is the key point of focus, the need to assess comes into play. Usually, when assessment is being carried out, the key area of concern is ascertaining the result of the learning process over some time. Hence, an assessment will often target a particular outcome derived from a session that has been taught or better still, learned. Moreover, an assessment is a vital source of information that can be used to make the teaching and learning process better (Billings & Halstead, 2009). Quite often, students and the teaching staff can only interact in the best way possible when assessment is put in place. it gives immediate feedback and response concerning both sides. The teaching faculty is capable of understanding how their learners are performing a given subject matter when an assessment is carried out. Data obtained from an assessment procedure can be used by tutors to make necessary adjustments aimed at improving performance.
For an assessment to be useful, the teaching has to be deliberated upon between the teaching fraternity and the students. Data regarding an assessment is specifically student-focused and un-graded. It is also case sensitive to a particular learning module or course.
On the other hand, an evaluation is best interpreted using a grading or ranking system. In most cases, when students are being evaluated, a real learning environment like a classroom is set up. There is more to undertake during an evaluation compared to an assessment. The ability to master the course module and equally pass a test by a grading system is entailed during an evaluation. Furthermore, an evaluation may also involve a detailed discussion of the course content. To achieve this, there is a need for the learners to cooperate during discussions. In terms of content, an evaluation usually reflects a summary of an assessment that has hitherto been carried out. It is driven towards giving the final quality. Besides, the orientation of an evaluation is in form of the course content that has already been studied while an assessment is much more concerned with a process on the trail of learning (Gaberson, Gaberson & Oermann, 2010). As mentioned earlier, it is only through an assessment that learning improvement can be done. However, an evaluation is purely judgemental and will only rank the ability of the learner. It is therefore imperative to note that while assessment is a long process filled with content, and evaluation depicts only an outcome of an assessment and is graded to enhance the scrutiny of results.
References
Billings, D.M. and Halstead J.A. (2009). Teaching in Nursing: A guide for faculty. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
Gaberson K., Gaberson B.K and Oermann H.M (2010). Clinical Teaching Strategies in Nursing. New York: Springer Publishing Company LLC.