Opinion
Dr. Madhav Deo Saraswat: What Does a 360-Degree Report Mean in National Education Policy?
I believe that one unsaid and significant objective of this measure is to enable the child and others around him/her in celebrating the uniqueness that one possesses and the fact that this uniqueness is integral to one’s identity in a world of diversified individuals.
According to the National Education Policy 2020, the redesigned report cards will be “a holistic, 360-degree, multidimensional report.” The progress report will include self-assessment, peer assessment and teacher assessment. They will reflect the progress and uniqueness of learner in the cognitive, affective, socio-emotional, and psychomotor domains. Project-based progress and inquiry-based learning, quizzes, role plays, group work, portfolios, etc., will be included in these report cards.
By definition, the 360-report is holistic and multidimensional. It is a system of collecting feedback on the performance of an individual or sometimes a team. The feedback comes from the appraiser, appraisee and peers. Any other person or team who may be affected by the outcome of the report may also contribute to the feedback system. The comprehensive data is then stored, systematically, which provides us with a wholesome and meaningful report. The report serves to identify the strengths and areas of improvement of an individual, so as to facilitate a clear-cut action plan.
Taken as a whole with cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains, the progress card will be a true reflection of the individual as one is at the present moment and also demonstrate progress with time. In the past, the major element that was captured in the report card was memory and retention. In the 360-degree report card, all aspects of the personality of an individual would be captured making it more relevant and actionable. This detailed analysis will not only be a tool to identify gaps but would also be of assistance in solving multi-dimensional issues in an institution ranging from student-teacher engagement, learning curve & progress, drop-out rate (and causes), and barriers to learning.
Looking at it holistically; just like the number (360), the report will give an all-round description of an individual’s performance over a certain period of time, in addition to identifying the strengths, opportunities, barriers and skills or qualities that may be developed over a period of time with honest feedback and the support of training.
Positive Impact
The biggest advantage of a 360-degree report card is that it reduces the scope of prejudices, at all levels. Since the system is iterative in nature and provides a comprehensive report, it automatically removes bias. Since the system is based on the concept of continuous assessment, it will assist in tracking the progress and provide timely feedback. Also, the 360-degree report creates a culture of self-assessment and understanding of one’s strengths and areas of improvement. This, to my mind, is a huge leap forward in promoting excellence. The report will serve to connect teachers with students and understand the underlying causes of the drop or rise in performance, which would help both the teacher and the taught to work together towards a common objective.
Negative Impact
Since the report is essentially an improvement seeking method, all positives of an individual may not find a place in the report. These reports are often generic in nature and therefore, may not be a source of encouragement to meritorious students who seek inspiration from excelling. This may also shift a lot of load for selection for graduation courses to the colleges/universities which are already over-burdened due to the ever-increasing number of aspirants. The success of this initiative would hugely depend upon how open the students and teachers are to the recommendations, else the purpose of the 360-degree report will not be met.
As far as the application of the 360-degree report card is concerned, the required infrastructure, IT/OT support and the mindset of the assessor who are used to marks and ranks will need to undergo a complete overhaul. The funds needed for this purpose which will be compounded by training requirements at all level may again become a barrier to implementation. Furthermore, given the enormity of Indian population, the limited resources for quality higher education, the selection process for specialized colleges for higher studies will require special attention to ensure that deserving candidates do not get missed out due to the generic nature of 360-degree report card.
Concluding remarks
The report will create opportunities for the child in areas which otherwise were not included. This, in turn, would establish a sense of empowerment for the child and he/she will be motivated to engage. Such an engagement would also enhance the scope of appreciation inward or outward, ensuring happiness for the child. I believe that one unsaid and significant objective of this measure is to enable the child and others around him/her in celebrating the uniqueness that one possesses and the fact that this uniqueness is integral to one’s identity in a world of diversified individuals.
However, this process of record-keeping and documenting assessment should not impose excessive pressure on the child. The success of this undertaking lies in our realization that however much the term report card indicates an outcome, the 360-degree viewpoint is all about the process. It must be considered as a dynamic tool to acknowledge, appreciate and accelerate the continuous learning process for children rather than being a static display of excellence.
About the author:
Dr. Madhav Deo Saraswat, Principal, The Scindia School