Overview
This lecture covers core assessment methods in education, focusing on aligning assessment techniques with learning targets and emphasizing practical tools and strategies.
Assessment Planning Process
- Start by understanding your students’ levels, interests, and needs.
- Develop a curriculum map for the year, quarter, or semester, integrating key projects and standards.
- Break units into discrete lessons with clear learning targets.
- Decide if learning targets require knowledge/understanding (low-level) or higher-order thinking/skills.
Selecting Assessment Techniques
- Use selected response assessments (e.g., multiple choice, true/false) for basic knowledge or understanding.
- For higher-order thinking, use written responses, visual diagrams, or products that demonstrate analysis, evaluation, or synthesis.
- Include performance assessments to capture skills, motivation, and nuanced understanding, especially for speaking and listening standards.
Ongoing Assessment Strategies
- Prepare both low-level and high-level questions for each lesson or unit.
- Utilize structured observation techniques and maintain records.
- Engage in dialogues with students for feedback and deeper understanding.
- Integrate student self-assessment at both formative (ongoing) and summative (end-of-unit) stages.
Effective Assessment Tools
- Concept maps: Connect ideas with labeled relationships to show understanding and higher-level connections.
- Graphs and charts: Enable students to analyze, interpret, and summarize data; useful for self-assessment.
- Matrices: Support comparison and justification, such as multiplication tables or analysis grids.
- Venn diagrams: Use multi-ring diagrams for complex comparisons and to address higher-level thinking (DOK level 3+).
Key Takeaways for Effective Assessment
- Triangulate assessment: Use multiple measures to assess the same learning target (e.g., test, written response, diagram).
- Teacher observations are crucial, especially in early childhood education.
- Develop rubrics, checklists, and performance evaluation models in advance for effective assessment and instruction.
- Many tools serve both formative (for learning) and summative (of learning) purposes.
- Student self-assessment should be embedded throughout the learning process.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Selected Response — Assessments like multiple choice or true/false, measuring basic knowledge.
- Performance Assessment — Tasks where students demonstrate skills or apply knowledge in real time.
- Formative Assessment — Ongoing checks during learning to guide instruction.
- Summative Assessment — Evaluation at the end of a unit to assess overall learning.
- Concept Map — A diagram showing relationships between concepts, with labeled arrows.
- Venn Diagram — A graphic organizer for comparing similarities and differences among items.
- Matrix — A grid for organizing and analyzing relationships between variables.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and practice creating concept maps, graphs, matrices, and Venn diagrams.
- Prepare observation templates and self-assessment tools for upcoming lessons.
- Read the next chapter on teacher observations in assessment.