One of the key goals of education is to prepare students for life outside of the classroom. The effectiveness of learning and teaching depends on various factors – most relevant are the context and surrounding in which the learning occurs. Therefore, it is very much necessary that students apply knowledge and skills gained from traditional classroom learning to hands-on projects. They also apply what is gained from the applied experience to academic learning – thus making it a 360 degree learning model.

A persistent question educators often come across is how to assess and reward the learning outcomes of the students in applied learning ecosystems. From continuous evaluation to end-semester tests, from peer-review/faculty review to self-assessment, from closed book exams to applied projects – there are a number of tools available.

At Rishihood, we believe that assessments are as much a way of learning, as they are a way to measure learning. Especially when it comes to a subject like Entrepreneurship, we cannot fully assess the learning outcomes from traditional assessment methods.

Faculty members at Rishihood devised an innovative activity and integrated it into assessing students’ learnings. Around the colourful festival of Holi, we organised a Holi Mela and the learners conducted various activities such as games, cooking, cricket, music, and more. With stalls for various goods and services, the learners had actual customers visiting them. Most stalls saw a profitable venture, with some making turnovers up to 300%.

This experience gave learners a unique and multi-dimensional exposure. They learnt skills like teamwork, project planning, sales, accounting, quality checks, and more. The entire activity was closely monitored and mentored by the faculty members as part of assessments.

This is when assessment not only becomes fun but a way of learning itself. At Rishihood, we are not limited to applied learning but we take it forward to applied assessments.