As an educator, I was a fan of assessment, both formal and informal. I used assessments of all kinds to measure my success as an educator, program success, and student successes. Assessments helped me to target program development, the next steps to improve what my colleagues and I could do to advantage students in countless ways.
Now as I step away from my past work as an educator, I am thinking about how I will use assessments, borth formal and informal, to assess the work I am doing for myself, my family, and the community? How can I use measurement to focus my efforts to make positive change and development in that sphere?
Medical tests
There are multiple medical tests and fitness trackers that I can use to measure my health goals. Studies show that when you use these tests and trackers well, you actually do make better gains. I plan to do that. Now that our health metrics are online, I'm hoping to improve my scores in a few areas before I have another blood test in a few months--that's a good goal.
Happiness tests
There are many ways you can assess the happiness of your loved ones. Mostly those assessments are done simply by listening to their words and observing their actions. You can tell if the people you live with and love are happy, and you can also experiment with ways to increase their happiness. My favorite way to do this is to ask the question, What do you need, want, and desire? This simple question often pinpoints areas of needwhen it comes to happiness.
Intelligence tests
There's no need to employ standardized tests in your everyday health to test your smarts and development in that area. Instead game playing, writing, conversation, and engagement with community events is one way to assess if you're on track. For example, I played chess over the vacation, and noticed that I'd profit from a bit more chess playing in the days ahead to sharpen my mind in that way. Also engaging in good conversations about current events demonstrates your ability to engage with good facts and arguments or not. Most of all, a good diet of reading, discussion, and learning in all kinds of ways keeps your mind sharp which is good for overall living.
Making goals and using informal or formal assessments to chart your progress is a good way to work for betterment--I plan to use this method in the year ahead. Onward.