Alternative Assessment Chapter 8 David Goh

Factors Increasing Awareness and Development of Alternative Assessment Educational reform movement Goals 2000, NCLB, IDEA Limitations in standardized testing as discussed prior Issue of testing when ELLs has other disabling conditions along with language differences

Defining Alternative Assessment In broad sense refers to any method used to find out what student knows or can do, thus intended to show growth Does not refer to any particular type of assessment, but is an umbrella phrase Common names: authentic, performance, and portfolio assessment

Goals of Alternative Assessment Based on direct assessment of student performance Measures high order thinking skills Informs teaching and instruction Allows self-assessment of students

How Results from Alternative Assessment is Used Diagnosis Monitoring student progress and growth Placing student at appropriate instructional level Assigning grades for reasons of evaluation, designing instructional interventions Providing feedback on instructional effectiveness Communicating with parents and teachers about student performance Determining if ELLs can not receive special instructional programs

Types of Alternative Assessment Performance: –Student performs, demonstrates, constructs, develops a product or a solution under defined conditions –Elements: linking assessment task to instruction establish scoring rubric sharing exemplary performance encourage student to self- reflect comparing student performance to predetermined standards and performance of other students

Types of Alternative Assessment- continued Authentic Assessment –Used interchangeably with alternative –Like performance assessment- focus is on direct examination of student performance and work product –Places additional requirement on the measurement of behavior and skills related to the real world –Assessment measures are intended to take place outside of classroom

Types of Alternative Assessment- continued Portfolio Assessment –Involves the evaluation of student knowledge, skills, and achievement based on a collection of student work –Involves a plan, collections, and analysis of a multiple source of data that reflect student accomplishments –Should not be a random collection

Portfolio Assessment- continued Five elements to be included –Identify the purpose and focus –Design content, data collection procedures, criteria for evaluation –Collect and analyze content –Analyze result to make instructional and educational decisions –Have students evaluate content –Involve parents in process

Specific Alternative Assessment Strategies Performance tasks Demonstration Oral Assessment- oral reports, role play, describing, explain, summarize, retell stories Learning products- writing samples, video tapes, presentations, drama, drawings, diorama, models, graphs, charts

Specific Alternative Assessment Strategies- continued Group work- write a dialogue and perform, find a solution to problem, prepare and present of project Observations- use predefined task and specific recording and scoring procedures Journals/learning logs- –Key components: develop purpose, have students keep journal, dialogue with students, student share, and student reflection

Specific Alternative Assessment Strategies-continued Interviewing Portfolios –Content: homework, in class assignments, prescribed exercises, writing samples, journal entries, audio/video tape presentations, drawings, conference and interview notes, anecdotal records –Samples may be both in English and dominant language Teacher-made Classroom measures –List modifications

Scoring and Interpretation Scoring rubric and redefined guidelines Quality standards Multiple raters Key components to interpret results –Mastery of skills –Relative group standing –Performance across time –Comparison to established norms

Technical Considerations Reliability –Content/task- to increase generalizability, increase number of tasks required –Interrater- reduce rater bias, generosity error and hallo effect Validity –Little research on validity –Methods to ensure validity Consequence of tests, fairness, generalizabilty Cognitive complexity, content quality, content coverage, meaningfulness, effect data collection and scoring procedures

Merits and Advantages of Alternative Assessment Direct examination of student’s performance or work product on significant and relevant tasks Information describes what a student knows and what they can do Assessment can be aligned with overall standards held for students

Limitations and Disadvantages of Alternative Assessment Limited empirical evidence to support reliability and validity Lack of standardization –Both in context and standards Time consuming and costly –Cost 4 to 5 times more than standardized commercial tests