Effective teachers and learners use a variety of methods for informal and formal assessment to guide the learning process.
"The relationship between assessment practices and the overall quality of teaching and learning is often underestimated in practice. However, the importance of assessment to the overall quality of teaching and learning in higher education has been well established. Assessment requirements and the clarity of assessment criteria and standards significantly influence the effectiveness of student learning. Carefully designed assessment contributes directly to the way students approach their study and therefore contributes indirectly, but powerfully to the quality of their learning. Well designed assessment should set clear expectations, establish a reasonable workload and provide opportunities for students to self monitor, rehearse, practise and receive feedback. Assessment is an integral component of a coherent educational experience ."
James, R., McInnis, C. and Devlin, M. (2002). Assessing Learning in Australian Universities. Accessed at http://inet.acu.edu.au/handbook/2005/rationale.htm on May 12, 2005.