EDU704 – Assessment and Evaluation Basic Terms and Purpose of Assessment and Evaluation Week 2 Acknowledgement:Satish P. Chand

What is Assessment? Any of a variety of procedures used to obtain information about student performance. Includes traditional paper and pencil tests as well as extended responses (e.g., essays), performances of authentic tasks (e.g., laboratory experiments), teacher observations, and student self report. Answers the Question: How well does the individual perform?

What is Assessment? Assessment is a systematic process that plays a significant role in effective teaching. It begins with identification of learning goals, monitors the progress students make toward those goals and ends with a judgment concerning the extent to which the goals have been attained

What is Test? An instrument or a systematic procedure for measuring a sample of behaviour by posing a set of questions in a uniform manner. Because test is a form of assessment it also answers the question: How well does the individual perform?- This is either in comparison with others or in comparison with a domain of performance tasks.

What is Measurement? The process of obtaining a numerical description to the degree of which an individual possesses a particular characteristic. Measurement answers the question “How much”?

The assessment process Assessment is more comprehensive and inclusive term than measurement or testing. Measurement is limited to quantitative descriptions of students i.e. the results of measurement are always expressed in numbers( e.g. Alex solved 35 of 40 Maths problems). Does not include qualitative descriptions. (e.g.. Sams work was neat)

The assessment process Assessment includes both quantitative description (measurement) and qualitative descriptions (nonmeasurement) of students Assessment always include value judgments concerning the desirability of the results.

Reliability and Validity What is reliability? Reliability is consistency in measurement Does this procedure or test yield the same results if you repeat the measurement, so long as conditions have not changed? Stern Tone Variator, from The Archives of the History of American Psychology PSY 3330 Research Methods

What is measurement validity? Validity is “truth” in measurement Does this procedure or test actually measure the construct or dimension it is intended to measure?

Reliable, but not valid Reliable: pattern shows the shot hits the same part of the target each time: it is consistent, so it is reliable. Not valid. The goal is to hit the center of the target, but the shots are not in that area.

Valid, but not reliable Valid because the pattern is evenly distributed around the correct goal (center): the person probably tried to hit the correct place. Not reliable because the shots are off the mark in every possible direction; they are not consistent.

Neither reliable nor valid Not reliable because the shots are not tightly clustered together; they are not consistent. Not valid because, to the extent there is any pattern, it is not at the true target, the center.

Both reliable and valid Reliable: the darts land close together. The red player can reliably hit the same part of the target. Valid: the darts are clustered at the center, where they were aimed. Bullseye!! by modenadude at http://www.flickr.com/photos/modenadude/3280286776

Exam A set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge It connotes the presentation of a standard set of questions to be answered.

Advantage of exams With exams, a person will be able to know his performance and knowledge. For most people, exams may encourage them to work and learn. Sometimes with exams, it can create competition, which push the competitors to do their best. It helps in developing one’s own personality and confidence. If a person passes the exams and get good marks, it helps him/her to get a scholarship which will assist to have a good job. (a good future)

Disadvantage of Exams Some students do not score well even if they know the material, poor reading skills can handicap a student, questions on examination might not test progress as well as they could. For some people, exams make them stressed. This is because there is too much pressure of their parents and teachers. What will happen if a person is sick or a dear one of his/her die? The answer is that the person will be penalized

Disadvantage of Exams During the exam, a person may also have problems with questions :- Bad choice of questions, Irrelevant answers. For most failure, who have got bad result, it will affect their future. For some, it can change their character or lead to suicide. But most lose confidence in themselves

Types of Assessment Assessment Norm- Referenced Assessment Criterion- Referenced Assessment

Norm Referenced Assessment Norm-referenced assessment is the process of evaluating (and grading) the learning of students by judging (and ranking) them against the performance of their peers. Norm reference- describe the performance in terms of the relative position held in some known group (X typed better than 85% of class members)

Criteria-referenced assessment Criteria-referenced assessment is the process of evaluating (and grading) the learning of students against a set of pre-specified criteria. Criterion-referenced- describes the specific performance that was demonstrated ( X typed 45 words per minute without error)

The Differences Between Assessment And Evaluation Assessment is the gathering of information about something, such as student performance. Evaluation is the act of setting a value on the assessment information Assessment is information Evaluation is a judgment Assessment is qualitative Evaluation is quantitative as well as qualitative Assessment pinpoints specific strengths and weaknesses Evaluation ranks and sorts individuals within groups Assessment is diagnostic and formative, as well as summative Evaluation is only summative Assessment focuses on the individual student Evaluation focuses on the group

Why do we assess? To know if students can apply what they have learned in authentic situations

Purpose of assessment Students Enhancing learning...... Providing feedback about progress...... Helping stimulate motivation.... Building self confidence and esteem Developing skills in evaluation (self & peer)

Purpose of assessment Teachers Info. about the learning (class/ individuals) Background info. on students.... Diagnosis of students...... Comparison of performance.... Diagnosis of teaching.... Enhancing curriculum..... Reporting purposes..... Demonstrating accountability.....

Purpose of assessment Parents Providing information about students’ development, learning and efforts at school. Providing guidelines for assisting at home with learning

Purpose of assessment d) Schools Providing valid information to evaluate the learning of an individual student, the class and whole school, the achievement of learning outcomes, the appropriateness of curriculum, and the use of resources Comparing student achievement levels with national performance levels

Purpose of assessment Government/ system Measuring achievement and standards across the system. Demonstrating accountability for taxpayers’ money spent on education

Purpose of assessment Community, employers and tertiary institutions Providing valid and reliable information to assist in selecting employees or determining entry to tertiary institutions Making and keeping schools accountable for what is learned.

Types of Assessment on the basis of their functions Formative Assessment Diagnostic Assessment Summative Assessment Placement Assessment

Placement Assessment Placement assessment is concerned with the student’s entry performance and typically focuses on questions such as the following (determine student performance at the beginning of instruction) Does the student possess the knowledge and skill needed to begin the planned instruction? To what extent has the student already developed the understanding and skills that are the goals of planned instruction?

Formative Assessment (Assessment for Learning) Formative assessment is used to monitor learning progress during instruction. Its purpose is to provide continuous feedback to both student & teacher concerning learning success & failing. Feedback to students provides reinforcement of successful learning & identifies the specific learning errors and misconceptions that are in need of correction. Feedback to teachers provide information for modifying instruction and for prescribing group & individual work

Diagnostic Assessment To diagnose learning difficulties during instruction It involves the use of specially prepared diagnostic tests as well as various observational techniques.

Summative Assessment (Assessment of Learning) Summative assessment typically comes at the end of a course (or unit) of instruction. It is designed to determine the extent to which the instructional goals have been achieved and is used primarily for assigning course grades or for certifying student mastery of the intended learning outcomes.

References Miller, M.D.; Linn, R.L.& Gronlund, N.E.(2009). Measurement and assessment in teaching(10th ed.) :Pearson pp. 26-35

Thank you