All Teachers Must Answer the Following Questions
1. How do we know students are learning?
2. How do we know our teaching is effective
There are many ways to assess.
Teachers must employ a variety of tools and strategies to get a broad sense of student learning.
The video "Assessing Student Learning" found at http://www.learner.org/workshops/socialstudies/index.html provides demonstration of a variety of assessment methods
This poster was provided as a list of guidelines for assessment.
This can be used as a criteria for designing assessments!
One of the examples shown in the video is a 4th grade class engaged in a cooperative learning project. Students were provided with the criteria for assessment, and focus questions for the project were developed as a class in order to assess prior knowledge and give students the guidelines for the project content.
Other examples demonstrated were chart creation with Kindergarten students and writing letters related to in-class discovery.
Ways to Assess to Student Learning
Traditional Methods
Binary Choice: Captures important thoughts and ideas but is susceptible to guessing
Multiple Choice: Tests a broad sense of knowledge but good questions can be difficult to develop
Matching: Good sampling of large amounts of knowledge, careful construction is essential
Interpretive Exercises: Assesses application skills, critical thinking skills, comprehension and reading skills, but can be difficult to write.
Other Methods (authentic assessment)
Included but not limited to:
- Portfolios
- Journals
- Graphic Organizers
- Projects
- Research Projects: cooperative and individual
- Role Play and drama
Assessment should match learning goals and lesson objectives!
Teachers need to choose the best method and use multiple strategies in order to promote learning and gather evidence of student performance.
Remember: "If you don't change assessment, nothing changes"
-Bernice McCarthy
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