1. Fairness Life is not fair, tests should be

2. Washback  What is it?  Basic Hypotheses:  Because of tests, teachers and/or learners do things they would not otherwise do?  Likewise, the more important the test the greater the washback  Since learners and teachers differ, tests will have different washback on different learners.

3. Washback  Do you believe in washback??????  Do you believe in the lochness monster?????  What evidence did the article cite that convinced you or did not convince you of the reality and nature of backwash?  Should this be studied quantitatively or qualitatively?

4. Fairness  What are some aspects of fair tests?  Which of these are most important?  Which are hardest/easiest to avoid?

5. Avoiding bias  Who here is unbiased towards students?  Have you gotten outside of your experience today?  Example of test bias SATSAT  Examples of test bias – piece of paper  Example 1 Example 1  Example 2 Example 2

6. Avoiding bias  Who is the following statement biased for or against?  In groups of two rewrite this item.  Try to get at the same concept but w/ less bias. 3.2 minutes

7. Accommodating Special Needs  Who here is special?  How?  What are some ways people are special that makes taking a test difficult?  How can we accommodate them?  Ask professionals...

8. Consequences  Motivation  Tests improve students’ motivation to learn when...  Know what will be assessed  How it will be scored  Designed so they give their best performance  Tasks are relevant to course and personal goals  Challenging but possible

9. Consequences  What will students do?  Selected response, mult. Choice, matching, fill blank  Essay  Oral Interview  Self-report  Observation

10. Consequences  Tests take tolls on teachers too, time and time again.  What effect can an assessment have on teachers?  Trade time teaching for time assessing.  How is your assessment seen by other teachers, parents, administrators, even politicians?

11. Consequences  With a partner, ask which of these take the most time and energy on the part of teachers?  Mult. Choice  Essay  Performance Based  Portfolio  Fill in blanks