Module 3 Assessment

Forms of Assessment Standardized Assessments High-stakes Assessments Pre-assessments Formative Assessments Summative Assessments Placement Assessments Screening Assessments Standardized Assessments Common Assessments Performance-based Assessments Portfolio-based Assessments

Assessment in an Age of Reform Testing in the post NCLB era is far more common Required testing: Annually for grades 3-8 and at least 1 time between 10-12. Mississippi: An average of 1 of every 4 days spent testing School Accountability Rules: “Schools and districts that receive an "F" grade two years in a row or twice in the past three years, and districts where 50 percent of the schools are rated "F" or where half the students attend "F"-rated schools are all eligible for the state's second takeover option: the Achievement School District. The district will be statewide, potentially including multiple failing school districts, all governed by one superintendent that the Mississippi Board of Education will hire.” --link

MS: Achievement School District (ASD) Currently, 6 districts are under state supervision (ASD) Greenville Public School District Holmes county School District Wilkinson County School District Noxubee County School District Jackson Public School District (jury is still out on this one) Humphreys County School District

MS: Standardized Teacher Evaluation Value-added Measures: Aims to determine how effective teachers are via student growth. In Mississippi we use M-STAR to evaluate teachers: 50% Professional Practice / 50% Student Growth Teachers receive a rating of Unsatisfactory Emerging Effective Distinguished

Purpose of Assessment Assessment Drives Instruction Pre-tests / Needs assessment Assessment Drives Learning How students believe they will be tested drives what/how they learn Assessment Informs Students of Their Progress How am I doing? What should I work on to improve? Assessment Informs Teaching Practices Did it work? What should I do differently?

Assessment Strategies: Key Points Traditional assessments (quizzes, tests, standardize tests, essays) have their place. Other forms of assessment may be more appropriate: Authentic Assessments highlight “skills” and let students “take ownership.” Portfolios Exhibitions Performance Peer-evaluation also gives students a sense of ”ownership” and “agency.” Teachers should include a broad range of assessment types.

Assessment: TWO CARDINAL RULES Expectations must be clear and unambiguous. Instructors must be open to using the MOST APPROPRIATE assessment for a given objective.