Invention ConventionInvention Convention

Seth KrivohlavekSeth Krivohlavek

Angie DeckAngie Deck

Nebraska State StandardsNebraska State Standards

4.1.1— By the end of fourth grade, students will 4.1.1— By the end of fourth grade, students will develop an understanding of form and function.develop an understanding of form and function.

4.6.1— By the end of fourth grade, students will 4.6.1— By the end of fourth grade, students will develop an understanding of technological develop an understanding of technological design.design.

4.6.2— By the end of fourth grade, students will 4.6.2— By the end of fourth grade, students will develop an understanding of science and develop an understanding of science and technology.technology.

Assessment DescriptionAssessment Description

Performance and Personal Performance and Personal Communication AssessmentCommunication Assessment

The students will generate a problem and The students will generate a problem and create a model or diagram of an invention create a model or diagram of an invention that will solve the problem.that will solve the problem.

Quality Criteria OneQuality Criteria OneThe assessments reflect the state or local standards.The assessments reflect the state or local standards.

Two fourth grade teachers and the Two fourth grade teachers and the elementary science chair elementary science chair (FOSS Committee)(FOSS Committee) created the assessment based on the created the assessment based on the curriculum that has been aligned to the curriculum that has been aligned to the state standards. state standards.

The assessment is performance based The assessment is performance based designed to check student mastery of designed to check student mastery of standards 4.1.4, 4.6.1, 4.6.2.standards 4.1.4, 4.6.1, 4.6.2.

Quality Criterion TwoQuality Criterion TwoStudents have the opportunity to learn the content.Students have the opportunity to learn the content.

The following guidelines have been provided for The following guidelines have been provided for teachers from the FOSS Committee in order to teachers from the FOSS Committee in order to ensure students have the opportunity to learn.ensure students have the opportunity to learn.

Instructional strategies prior to the assessment:Instructional strategies prior to the assessment: Teach Ideas and Inventions FOSS KitTeach Ideas and Inventions FOSS Kit

Be sure to include the independent investigations and question Be sure to include the independent investigations and question asking activities.asking activities.

Complete the Inventors Report AssessmentComplete the Inventors Report Assessment Note the design of the inventions and the problems Note the design of the inventions and the problems

they solved.they solved.

Quality Criterion TwoQuality Criterion TwoStudents have the opportunity to learn the content.Students have the opportunity to learn the content.

Student prerequisite knowledge or skills:Student prerequisite knowledge or skills:

Problem solving skillsProblem solving skillsKnowledge of previous inventions and how Knowledge of previous inventions and how

they solved problems. they solved problems.

Quality Criterion TwoQuality Criterion TwoStudents have the opportunity to learn the content.Students have the opportunity to learn the content.

Possible Accommodations for Special Possible Accommodations for Special Populations of students:Populations of students:

Dictation of writing portionsDictation of writing portionsAdditional individual or small group Additional individual or small group

brainstormingbrainstormingTeacher guidance in presentation preparationTeacher guidance in presentation preparationOther accommodations as stated in the IEPOther accommodations as stated in the IEP

Quality Criterion TwoQuality Criterion TwoStudents have the opportunity to learn the content.Students have the opportunity to learn the content.

Teachers will include the science state Teachers will include the science state standards in their weekly lesson plans.standards in their weekly lesson plans.

Lesson plans will be checked by the Lesson plans will be checked by the building principal for accountability building principal for accountability purposes.purposes.

Quality Criterion ThreeQuality Criterion ThreeThe assessments are free from bias.The assessments are free from bias.

The FOSS Committee participated in the The FOSS Committee participated in the consortium for state assessment writing, consortium for state assessment writing, which includes bias training.which includes bias training.

Students are free to choose a problem that Students are free to choose a problem that they are familiar with.they are familiar with.

Quality Criterion FourQuality Criterion FourThe level is appropriate for the students.The level is appropriate for the students.

The FOSS Committee created and The FOSS Committee created and examined the assessment for grade level examined the assessment for grade level appropriateness. appropriateness.

The district fourth grade team will review The district fourth grade team will review the assessment to ensure grade level the assessment to ensure grade level appropriateness.appropriateness.

Accommodations will be made for special Accommodations will be made for special education students based on their IEP.education students based on their IEP.

Quality Criterion FiveQuality Criterion FiveThere is consistency in scoring.There is consistency in scoring.

After the pilot year teachers will randomly select a After the pilot year teachers will randomly select a group of 50 projects and check for inter-rater group of 50 projects and check for inter-rater reliability. reliability.

Using the scoring rubric, teachers will “blindly” rate Using the scoring rubric, teachers will “blindly” rate each “Evaluation Sheet” produced by students. each “Evaluation Sheet” produced by students.

After rating the assessment, teachers will look at After rating the assessment, teachers will look at and choose “marker” papers to become the and choose “marker” papers to become the standard of expectations for the following years.standard of expectations for the following years.

Presentations will be recorded and later reviewed Presentations will be recorded and later reviewed for inter-rater reliability. for inter-rater reliability.

Changes in the scoring rubric will be made, if Changes in the scoring rubric will be made, if needed, based upon the findings.needed, based upon the findings.

Quality Criterion SixQuality Criterion SixMastery levels are appropriate.Mastery levels are appropriate.

The FOSS Committee created the The FOSS Committee created the assessment rubricassessment rubric

First the proficient (mastery) level was First the proficient (mastery) level was developeddeveloped

Other levels were then formed from this Other levels were then formed from this starting pointstarting point

Changes will be made if necessary after the Changes will be made if necessary after the pilot yearpilot year

Conclusions and Plans for the Conclusions and Plans for the FutureFuture

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Inter-rater reliability???Inter-rater reliability???RubricRubricTeacher expectationsTeacher expectations

Time consumingTime consuming

Conclusions and Plans for the Conclusions and Plans for the FutureFuture

StrengthsStrengths

Performance AssessmentPerformance Assessment

Students are given choicesStudents are given choices

Guidelines are clearGuidelines are clear

Meaningful AssessmentMeaningful Assessment