Self-Assessment



One way to facilitate autonomy building is to facilitate a process of self-assessment and evaluation. The process of assessing our own needs and goals is an opportunity to take possession of our development. When we are encouraged to decide what we want to learn and how we want to challenge ourselves, we have the opportunity to develop a directorial and self-affirming stance toward our own lives. And when we learn to how make our own choices, we become less dependent upon external authority figures.

Self-assessment Instructions

This self-assessment of goals achieved has two purposes (in order of decreasing priority):
  1. Stock-taking to inform your future work; and
  2. To provide insight for the instructor and for other interested parties.
The goals are divided into two sets:
I. "My Report Shows That..."; and
II. Developing as a reflective practitioner, including taking initiative in or through relationships
First, you should describe for each goal
a) something that reflects what you have achieved well related to this goal, and
b) something you have struggled with/ need more help on/ want to work further on.
(Even though you may have many examples for some items, one is enough. Write neatly or ask for the items by email so you can type your responses.)

After you have written something for all the items, mark in the left margin beside each goal either
** [= "fulfilled very well"],
OK [= "did a reasonable job, but room for more development"], or
-> [= "to be honest, this still needs serious attention"]
Make a copy for me. If there are big discrepancies between my assessment and yours, we should discuss the discrepancies and try to come to a shared agreement about them.


I. "MY REPORT SHOWS THAT..." (goals of the ten phases of research and engagement)
A. I can convey who I want to influence/affect concerning what (Subject, Audience, Purpose).

B. I know what others have done before, either in the form of writing or action, that informs and connects with my project, and I know what others are doing now.

C. I have teased out my vision, so as to expand my view of issues associated with the project, expose possible new directions, clarify direction/scope within the larger set of issues, and decide the most important direction.

D. I have identified the premises and propositions that my project depends on, and can state counter-propositions. I have taken stock of the thinking and research I need to do to counter those counter-propositions or to revise my own propositions.

E. I have clear objectives with respect to product, both written and practice, and process, including personal development as a reflective practitioner. I have arranged my work in a sequence (with realistic deadlines) to realize these objectives.

F. I have gained direct information, models, and experience not readily available from other sources.

G. I have clarified the overall progression or argument underlying my research and the written reports.

H. My writing and other products Grab the attention of the readers/audience, Orient them, move them along in Steps, so they appreciate the Position I've led them to.

I. I have facilitated new avenues of classroom, workplace, and public participation.

J. To feed into my future learning and other work, I have taken stock of what has been working well and what needs changing.
II. DEVELOPING AS A REFLECTIVE PRACTITIONER, INCLUDING TAKING INITIATIVE IN AND THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS
1. I have integrated knowledge and perspectives from CCT and other courses into my own inquiry and engagement in social and/or educational change.

2. I have also integrated into my own inquiry and engagement the processes, experiences, and struggles of previous courses.

3. I have developed efficient ways to organize my time, research materials, computer access, bibliographies...

4. I have experimented with new tools and experiences, even if not every one became part of my toolkit as a learner, teacher/facilitator of others, and reflective practitioner.

5. I have paid attention to the emotional dimensions of undertaking my own project but have found ways to clear away distractions from other sources (present & past) and not get blocked, turning apparent obstacles into opportunities to move into unfamiliar or uncomfortable territory.

6. I have developed peer and other horizontal relationships. I have sought support and advice from peers, and have given support and advice to them when asked for.

7. I have taken the lead, not dragged my feet, in dialogue with my instructor and other readers. I didn't wait for the them to tell me how to solve an expository problem, what must be read and covered in the literature, or what was meant by some comment I didn't understand. I didn't put off giving my writing to my instructor and other readers or avoid talking to them because I thought that they didn't see things the same way as I do.

8. I have revised seriously, which involved responding to the comments of others. I came to see this not as bowing down to the views of others, but taking them in and working them into my own reflective inquiry until I could convey more powerfully to others what I'm about (which may have changed as a result of the reflective inquiry).

9. I have inquired and negotiated about formal standards, but gone on to develop and internalize my own criteria for doing work--criteria other than jumping through hoops set by the instructor so I get a good grade.

10. I have approached this course as a work-in-progress. Instead of harboring criticisms to submit after the fact, I have found opportunities to affirm what is working well and suggest directions for further development.
Updated: 6-17-02