CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENT LEARNING Rick Stiggins

Assessment quality requires ACCURACY as well as EFFECTIVE USE

Purpose: Assess to meet whose needs?

PURPOSE Two Uses of Assessment SUMMATIVE Assessments OF Learning How much have students learned as of a particular point in time? FORMATIVE Assessments FOR Learning How can we use assessment information to help students learn more?

Assessment for Learning Rick Stiggins

Rick Stiggins Video Clip Two Sheets of Paper Of Learning on one sheet of paper Definition Main points For Learning Main Points

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT All those activities undertaken by teachers and by their students [that] provide information to be used as FEEDBACK to modify the teaching and learning activities in which they are engaged. --Black & Wiliam, 1998

Research consistently shows that regular, high-quality FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT increases student achievement.

Largest Gain for Low Achievers Research On Effects .4 to .7 Standard Deviation Score Gain Largest Gain for Low Achievers

Formative Assessment Formative/In-Process Students & teachers participate Focus on learning goals Where is current work in relation to goal Take action to move closer to the goal

NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS Increased accuracy of formative assessments Increased descriptive feedback, reduced evaluative feedback Increased student involvement

Why Assessment for Learning Works When students are required to think about their own learning, articulate what they understand, and what they still need to learn, achievement improves. --Black and Wiliam, 1998; Sternberg, 1996; Young, 2000

Balanced Assessment: Meeting the Needs of All Stakeholders Annual accountability testing Interim, short-cycle or benchmark Ongoing, accurate classroom assessment for learning

Balanced Assessment Formative Summative Assessment for learning Formal and informal processes teachers and students use to gather evidence to directly improve the learning of students assessed Summative Provides evidence achievement to certify student competence or program effectiveness Assessment for learning Use assessments to help students assess and adjust their own learning Assessment for learning Use classroom assessments to inform teacher’s decisions Formative uses of summative data Use of summative evidence to inform what comes next for individuals or groups of students

Keys to Classroom Assessment Key 1: Clear Purpose Key 2: Clear targets Key 3: Sound Assessment Design Key 4: Effective Communication Key 5: Student Involvement

Key 1: Clear Assessment Purpose Always begin by asking: What decisions? Who’s making them? What information will be helpful to them?

Key 2: Clear Learning Targets Know what kinds of targets are represented in curriculum Know which targets each assessment measures

Kinds of Targets Master content knowledge Use knowledge to reason Know it outright Know where to find it or how to do it Use knowledge to reason Demonstrate performance skills Create quality products

Key 3: Sound Assessment Design Target-method match Select a proper method Item quality Build the assessment with quality ingredients Sample Gather enough evidence Minimize bias Avoid sources of bias and distortion

Key 4: Effective Communication To the student: descriptive feedback About the student, to others: grades Involving the student, tracking learning: portfolios Involving the student, to others: conferences About the student: standardized tests

Key 5: Student Involvement Clear Purpose: Consider the student as the most important user of assessment information Clear Targets: Communicate the learning targets in advance in language students can understand Sound Design: Set assessments up so that students can use the information to self-assess and set goals Effective Communication: Provide students with descriptive feedback; involve students in tracking and communicating about their learning

Keys to Classroom Assessment

The Long-Standing Problem Educators have rarely been given the opportunity to learn how to gather dependable evidence

Three Essential Questions for Students What do I need to know? Where am I? How will I get there?

Seven Strategies of Assessment FOR Learning Clear & Understandable Vision of Target Examples/models of strong & weak work Regular Descriptive feedback Teach Students to Self-Assess & Set Goals. Focus on One Aspect Teach Focused Revision Engage students in Self-Reflection

A, B Partners “7 Strategies” Read-Share-Inquire Individually read section A: shares key point or connection B: “And what makes that important to you? Alternate, repeat until finished 15 minutes

First Turn/Last Turn 25 Minutes Group Sharing In turn – share one of your items, ----but do not comment on it - The First Turn. Group members comment in round-robin order about the item. (No cross talk) The initial person who named the item then shares his or her thinking about the item and gets – The Last Turn. Repeat the pattern around the table. 25 Minutes

Three Essential Questions for Students What do I need to know? Where am I? How will I get there?

Expected Benefits and Proven Results Better instruction focused on standards Profound achievement gains for all students, with the largest gains for lowest achievers More self-managed learning by students

What decisions do students make on the basis of classroom assessment information?

From High Stakes Assessment to In-Process Measures Mistaken Belief: “It’s the adults who use assessment results to make the most important instructional decisions…” Mistaken Belief: “The most important decisions are made annually based on annual high-stakes tests” 18:05-24:27

Students and Assessment Rick Stiggins

“Assessment Through the Student’s Eyes” The Assessment Experience Scenario 1 & Scenario 2

Formative assessment can and should be done NEW IDEA: Formative assessment can and should be done BY STUDENTS, as well as by teachers. The key to improvement is how students and teachers use assessment information.

Data What data should be collected? How should data be used? Who should be involved? What makes it relevant?

Using Data How good is good enough? Does this meet the standard? What are students doing well? What are the weak areas? What do we do about it?

Data Should Be: Multi-sourced Relevant Timely Consistent over time Collected by users Disaggregated Driving effective decision-making Supportive of mission: success for all Foundation of team efforts to find solutions

Using data to guide decision-making and continuous improvement How has the Cedar Rapids district implemented this principle? How has your school? You in your role? What could you do?

3-2-1 Exit Card 3 things you Learned today 2 things you liked OR want to do tomorrow 1 Word to describe the way you feel

Why are kids not connected to school?

Why aren’t kids connected to school?