Page 189 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

SII Method of Assessment

The SII Method of Assessment is a form of assessment that requires the assessor to focus on three main
items: Strengths, areas for Improvement, and Insights gained. The SII Method can be used in most any
assessment situation. You’ve already had some significant practice using this method, as you’ve completed
self-assessments at the end of each chapter. Let’s take a moment and examine this method more closely.

A strength identifies the ways in which the performance was of high quality and commendable. A
strength should also include a statement as to why particular strengths were considered the most
important.

An area for improvement identifies what changes can be made in the future (between
now and the next assessment) to improve performance. This part of the assessment should also
include a description or ideas about how changes and improvements might be made.

An insight identifies what new and significant discoveries or understandings were
gained concerning the performance area. Insights include why a discovery or new
understanding is important and how it can be applied to other situations. An insight answers the
question: What did the assessor learn that others might benefit from hearing or knowing?

An insight can be described as…

• Something valuable you learned for the first time

• Something you now begin to understand that you did not understand before

• Something you recognized that you hadn’t noticed before

• Something that you perceive is significant

• An awareness of something important

To use the SII Method of Assessment effectively, you need to use it thoughtfully. The temptation might be
to simply dash off a few things that you noticed in order to finish an assessment, but that won’t help you
improve your personal or academic performance. There are levels of performance for the SII Method of
Assessment; these are presented in the rubric on the following page. The levels (including explanations)
and examples of each appear in the rubric on the next page (Table 7.1). From this point forward, your SII
Self-Assessments in each chapter, as well as any SII Assessments you are directed to complete will be
assessed according to this rubric.

Chapter 7 — Addressing Personal Obstacles 183