Assessing Learning OutcomesWeek 1B: Role of Assessment

Course Number: IPT 652

Meeting time: T&TH 2:00 -3:50 pm

Topics For Today (this week)

Role of Assessment More Terms

Purpose of Assessment

Why Assess?

Education and Assessment

A general purpose of education is to help students achieve a set of intended learning goals

Assessment can be an integral part of the educational process

Some Reasons for Assessment The specific purpose of assessment varies [p.38 ]

Placement – Pre-instructional assessment Diagnostic – assess learner’s needs Formative – during the educational process to help guide

instructional activities Summative – determine the extent to which learning

objectives were achieved by students. Accountability – for students, teachers and schools

Proper use of assessment data can be used to improve the educational process. Improper use ….?

Assessment Adjectives

Valid - Measures what it is suppose to measure and is used and interpreted properly.

Reliable – consistently measures what it measures. Note the assessment results are reliable not the assessment instrument.

Additional Assessment Terms

It is difficult to communicate about Assessment if we don’t have a correct and shared understanding of terms.

Assessment Types (format) [see 1-8] Standardized [1-9] and Performance

Standardized test – Professionally made, administered, scored and interpreted in a standard manner. Goal is to make the conditions similar for all those taking the test.

Performance Assessments – Authentic situations in which students must perform or accomplish some task which will be assessed. [1-12]

Question (choose the best answer)

The best way to get good test results is to

A.Use tests that are objectively scored to maximize agreement

B.Use subjectively scored assessments to maximize flexibility and completeness.

C.No one really knows

Assessment Issues (format and scoring) Objective vs Subjective

Objective – Fixed choice Cost effective, high reliability, efficient Overemphasize facts and low-level skills, test drive

instruction limiting what we teach Subjective – Complex-performance (authentic)

time consuming, less reliable, require expertise/training Test important real-world skills, whole person capability

Represent two ends of the testing continuum, best to mix carefully to obtain best results

Assessment Purpose (nature) Maximum vs Typical performance [1-13]

Maximum performance – the best the person can achieve when motivated to obtain highest score possible (predicts what students is capable of)

Typical performance – how the person normally performs or typical behavior. (concerned with what student will do, not what they are capable of)

Question (choose the best answer)

What type of assessment is a portfolio

A. Maximum performance

B. Typical performance

Assessment Purpose (format) Speed vs Power

Speed – how well a student performs in a set amount of time.

Power – how the person performs given ample time to accomplish the task

Why would you do this?

Assessment Purpose (interpretation) Norm Referenced vs Criterion Referenced

tests Norm Reference – compares result to all others

taking the test. (wants to discriminate, compare to others)

Criterion Reference – compares performance to a specific expected level. (wants to measure proficiency against a set standard)

Look similar but are constructed differently. [pg 42, 1-10]

Question (choose the best answer)

NCLB legislation requires states to align test with standards. Which best describes the type of standards use by most states

A.Content standards

B.Performance standards

C.Federal Education Standards

D.All the above

Standards and Testing

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_U_Pass_Tests/

http://www.uen.org/core/

Question (choose the best answer)

The Utah CRT assessment is best described as

1) Standardized or Performance based

2) Speed or Power test

3) Formative or Summative

4) Maximum or Typical performance

5) Objective or Subjective

6) Criterion referenced or Norm Referenced

Review and Summary

Assessment Terms need to be understood Trend for Increased Assessment Reasons for Assessment Vary Assessment is a means to an end not and

end in itself.

Summary

Measurement and Assessment play an important role in education

Used properly, assessment will improve the teaching and learning process

Teachers (and others) need to understand both measurement and assessment concepts, benefits, and limitations

Next Week

Bloom’s Revised Appendix G 2-7 to 2-22 Chapter 3