An Introduction to Educational Testing and Measurement Concordia University CAI 5323 Assessment & Evaluation

Tests are only tools Tools can be appropriately used or intentionally abused Tools can be well designed or poorly designed Tools in the hands of ill-trained or inexperienced users can be dangerous

Test are not infallible; Usefulness varies No test meets “one size fits all” We often talk validity and reliability without considering its usefulness. Usefulness can be affected by… Different purposes Different populations

Quick Review Validity: Does the test measure what it is supposed to measure? Reliability: Will this test yield stable scores over repeated administrations?

Measurement thought Anything that appears in numerical form seems reassuringly scientific; if the numbers are getting larger over time, we must be making progress. Right???? Not always!

Testing v. Assessment Process Tests (assessments): Typically occur on a single day and may or not include remediation and retest. Assessment Process: Includes multiple sources and may span the entire semester and/or school year.

Something to think about… The assessment process should be viewed as more of a movie than a snapshot.

Socratic Moment As a teacher what is unique about your assessment process?

Socratic Moment As a principal what are your expectations for your teacher’s assessment process?

History in Texas’ Assesment Select Committee on Education (H. Ross Perot), 1984 Established State curriculum (Essential Elements) No pass, no play 70 as passing standard Teacher proficiency tests Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS)

National trends in Assesment A Nation at Risk report, 1983, called for education reform and accountability Today every state has some type of test and assessment accountability program No Child Left Behind, 2002 (NCLB) mandates accountability standards to be eligible for federal funding

NCLB’s Four Pillars, 2002 Accountability for Results Based on Scientific Research Expanded Parental Options Expanded Local Control and Flexibility Multiple federal education programs included within it: Reading First Safe and Drug Free Schools Education Technology Teacher Quality Etc

NCLB v AEIS Topic for next week… Homework: Bring in copy of this years AEIS Report from your campus (Preferred “Campus Accountability Data Tables”).

NCLB

Education in the global economy With advances in telecommunications and technology, it is clear our students must compete in a global economy. Video… Did you know?

Socratic Moment What are some societal trends in your district that may make testing in our schools more complicated in the future?

Socratic Moment How do you believe testing and accountability will change in America over the next 20 years?