Assessment

Why do we assess? –To assist student learning –To identify students’ strengths and weaknesses –To assess the effectiveness of a particular instructional strategy –To assess and improve the effectiveness of curriculum programs

Why do we assess? –To assess and improve teaching effectiveness –To provide data that assist in decision making –To communicate with and involve parents –Provides students with feedback on their performance

Formative Assessments

Think of this as assessment “for” learning Characteristics of Formative Assessments –They are ongoing –They support learning during the learning process –Guide teacher in decision making about future instruction –Allow the teacher to check for understanding –Are not graded (some of the time) –Give students feedback on their learning

Examples - Adapted from Scholastic website Summaries and Reflections –Students stop and reflect, make sense of what they have heard or read, derive personal meaning from their learning experiences, and/or increase their thinking skills. –These require that students use content- specific language. –Exp: Exit Slip, Summaries can be verbal or written, research journal

Examples - Adapted from Scholastic website Lists, Charts, and Graphic Organizers –Students will organize information, make connections, and note relationships through the use of various graphic organizers. Observations

Visual Representations of Information –Students will use both words and pictures to make connections and increase memory, facilitating retrieval of information later on. –This "dual coding" helps teachers address classroom diversity, preferences in learning style, and different ways of "knowing." Examples - Adapted from Scholastic website

Collaborative Activities –Students have the opportunity to move and/or communicate with others as they develop and demonstrate their understanding of concepts. –Exp: Think-Pair-Share Examples - Adapted from Scholastic website

Interview/Conference with Journals –Have a list of “guiding” questions that you would like to ask students although their answers will guide the conversation. Can you think of any formative assessments I have not mentioned? Examples - Adapted from Scholastic website

Summative Assessment

Summative Assessments Think of this as assessment “of” learning –Typically used to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional programs and services at the end of an academic year or at a pre- determined time. –The goal of summative assessments is to make a judgment of student competency after an instructional phase is complete –These are graded.

Examples of Summative Assessments Final Exams Quarterly Assessments End of Chapter Test Quizzes State Standardized Test (MEAP)

Types of Assessments

Look at pages in the Vellom Book Types are –Selected Response Format –Brief Constructed Response –Performance Based

Putting the test together Look at the Deb Wahlstrom handout This handout give you information general guidelines for constructing a high-quality paper/pencil test Make sure you use these guidelines when creating your summative assessment for your Unit Plan

Modifying Assessments

Specials Needs Learners You will need to modify assessments for special needs learners The modifications you make depends on the type of assessment you are giving You will need to include modifications on the assessment for your unit plan

Suggestions for Modifications Multiple Choice –Give only 3 choices instead of 4 Fill in the blank –Give students a work bank Fill in the diagram –Give students a word bank

Suggestions for Modifications Matching –Chunk information so it’s not so overwhelming. For example: If you have 10 matching items, break it up into two groups of five. That means less choices and less confusion.

_____ 1. The part of the eye that has color A Vitreous humor _____ 2. A nerve cell in the eye that is sensitive to white, black, and shades of gray B Lens _____ 3. Clear, tough membrane, like a contact lens that allows light to enter C Rods _____ 4. Jellylike fluid that fills the eye D Iris _____ 5. The white of the eye E Optic Nerve _____ 6. A hole in the eye – the size of the hole changes if iris gets bigger or smaller AB Cornea _____ 7. A layer of light sensitive nerve cells, which contains rods and cones AC Pupil _____ 8. Transmits nerve impulses from the rods and cones to the brain AD Retina

Essay/Short Answer –Provided guided questions or sentence starters Test Length –Shorten the test Other modifications –Test read orally –Student answers verbally –Longer testing period –Small group testing

References Scholastic located at se/article.jsp?id= se/article.jsp?id=