Evaluating Student Achievement How do you measure if your students are learning?

Question for you On a clean sheet of paper. Write down how measure student learning. Discussion on how we traditionally measure student learning.

Sound Familiar “I taught them, but the average grade was a 34 %. These students need to study harder.” "I don't need to understand this, I just need to know an equation so I can pass the test." Could be poor teaching, but could also be poor evaluation STORY - teaching my dog to whistle We all remember the lecturers and now we are the lectures STORY - What is our goal? Regurgitation or Understanding? We need to change our evaluation so we measure understanding.

Agenda Become familiar with the differences between formative and summative evaluation. These are our objectives for the next hour.

Formative and Summative Assessment Formative Assessment is intertwined with your teaching, it happens all the time. Summative Assessment happens at the end of your class and measures the students level of learning at that specific moment in time. The two major categories of student assessment. Each serve their purpose well. But they require us to change how we look at teaching and evaluation.

Instruction and Evaluation Summative… instruct instruct instruct instruct instruct instruct instruct evaluate Formative and Summative… instruct evaluate instruct evaluate Instruction and evaluation happen at the same time. In the first scenario how do you know if your students are getting it? If you integrate instruction and evaluation you can modify your teaching to optimize student learning.

Your Evaluation Has to Match Your Objectives What do your students need to learn? Evaluation Make judgments Synthesis Creates meaning Analysis Break it down Application Use a concept Comprehension Understand meaning Knowledge Recall or recite This goes back to your objectives; it always does. Objectives, teaching, and evaluation are intimately tied together. HANDOUT What keywords are showing up in your objectives There has to be a clear line between your objectives – teaching – and evaluation

Formative Assessment Formative Assessment lets the student know how well they are grasping the material Formative Assessment lets YOU identify the gaps between what is being taught and what is being learned. These are done early and often. Mixed in with your teaching all semester long.

Examples of Formative Assessment Just ask One minute paper Toughest point One sentence summary Application cards Mind Map Stop/Start/Continue

Examples of Summative Assessment Here a few summative evaluation techniques other than test Test Portfolios Product-Based Performance-Based Journals & Learning Logs Quiz and Test We are going to discuss several different types of assessment strategies. Jeannie suggested we focus on Rubrics. You probably use some of these tools already. Please add to our discussion with your experiences.

Advantages for the student Allows for a broad range of demonstration of knowledge Allows for legitimate self assessment. Individual strengths and abilities are recognized. Goals (objectives) are clearly stated in the beginning of a unit of study. Students are able to assess themselves as they move through material. They often find problem areas and deficiencies before being formally assessed by the teacher. Students will learn to gage their own learning as well as develop time manage skills.

Advantages for the Teacher Learning goals (objectives) are shared with students before material is introduced. Students know exactly what you want them to learn. Tests all 6 levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Gives a clearer and broader picture of each students abilities, strengths and knowledge. There are several methods we will talk about that easily allow the teacher to address all levels of learning. Knowledge-observe and recall Comprehension-understand, interpret, compare, contrast Application- Use information, solve problems Analysis- organization of parts Synthesis- Draw conclusions, generalize Evaluation- Compare ideas, assess value of information

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