Assessment, Standards, & Accountability EDUC 1010- Chapter 14

Assessment, Standards and Accountability Standards- what students should know Accountability- Students demonstrating understanding Holding teachers responsible for student performance Assessment- the process which brings about accountability

Why is Assessment Important? Used to gather information and make decisions about student learning Formal tests Seatwork assignments Verbal explanation Quiz Observation Portfolio Product creation

Types of Assessment Paper and pencil Performance Portfolio Informal assessment- useful for daily decisions regarding academic, personal, and social growth Formal assessment Paper and pencil Performance Portfolio

Types of Assessment Formative assessments- Information gathered to monitor the learning process Summative assessments- process of assessing learning after instruction and used for grading decisions

What does good Assessment look like? Good assessments are valid and reliable Does it test what is meant to be tested? Does it give you a good picture of all students? Consistency of results

Rubrics increase reliability and validity Are essential for increasing reliability of assessments requiring teacher judgment Decreases the likelihood of inconsistent scoring

Misconceptions about Assessment Purpose is to determine student grades Assessment occurs after a unit of study It focuses strictly on students’ understanding and skills Exists ONLY in the form of paper-and-pencil tests

Elementary Assessment Focus on basic skills Language Arts Math More informal testing Personal and Social Development Accepts responsibility Works well with others Completes assignments

Secondary Assessment More traditional quizzes and tests Less reliance on commercial tests

Assessing to Promote Learning Must be aligned with standards and learning objectives Measure students’ knowledge and thinking Include detailed feedback Avoid social comparisons

Grading and Reporting How will I balance tests, quizzes and performance assessments? How will I count homework? How will I report affective dimensions? Some teachers factor in effort, class participation and attitude as part of grade. What do you think?

Technology/Assessments Can aid in: Construction Administering Scoring and Interpreting Maintaining Records Table 14.1 – page 430