Topic 1 - Notes

A comprehensive review of assessment policies and practices across 21 national education systems (Sargent, 2013) highlights the following trends:

• emphasis on key subject areas such as geography, accounting and psychology

• promotion of continuous, teacher-led and diagnostic/formative assessment

• lack of assessment for students during compulsory education

• formal certification at the end of university phase only

Answer explanation

A comprehensive review of assessment policies and practices across 21 national education systems (Sargent, 2013) highlights the following trends:

• centralized curriculum frameworks, including specific attainment targets to be reached at specific levels/grades of education

• emphasis on key subject areas such as language, mathematics and science

• promotion of continuous, teacher-led and diagnostic/formative assessment

• national standardized assessment of students during compulsory education

• formal certification at the end of lower- and upper-secondary phases

Traditional concepts of assessment emphasized periodic ‘checking’ of how students were doing – this is commonly understood as ________________. One practical problem with this is that students may struggle for some time and have difficulty in catching up on any concepts missed. Contemporary approaches to assessment stress more frequent assessments embedded in normal classroom practice:

• allowing teachers and students to monitor learning in real time.

• take corrective action as part of normal daily classroom routines.

• Assessment of Learning

• Assessment for Learning

• Diagnostic Assessment

• Learning Checkpoint

Answer explanation

Assessment Of Learning

Which of the following TWO answers are characteristics for Assessment of Learning?

• Provides a means of rating students, or comparing them one to another.

• Does not focus on feedback for improvement.

• Assessment occurs regularly and that the information gained is used to mold teaching and learning.

• Feedback helps students identify the strengths and weaknesses of their performance so that they can improve their achievement.

Answer explanation

Assessment Of Learning

• Provides a means of rating students, or comparing them one to another.

• Does not focus on feedback for improvement.

Which of the following TWO answers are characteristics for Assessment for Learning?

• Provides a means of rating students, or comparing them one to another.

• Does not focus on feedback for improvement.

• Assessment occurs regularly and that the information gained is used to mold teaching and learning.

• Feedback helps students identify the strengths and weaknesses of their performance so that they can improve their achievement.

Answer explanation

Assessment For Learning

• Assessment occurs regularly and that the information gained is used to mold teaching and learning.

• Feedback helps students identify the strengths and weaknesses of their performance so that they can improve their achievement.

Why is there a need for training in Assessment for Teachers?

• looking at different functions of various assessments

• to better select which assessment to use based on students level of knowledge and ability

• create a more relevant assessment for students

• so that students are not bored looking at the same type of assessment all the time

Answer explanation

This is to begin the process of increasing your assessment repertoire by looking at the diverse functions of various assessments. The more you know about what each kind of assessment seeks to assess, the better able you will be to select the assessment that tells you what you need to know about students’ levels of knowledge and ability. In turn, you will be able to create assessments that will be most relevant to your students.

Which of the following describe diagnostic assessment best?

• Sets targets for students, can be used on a daily basis.

• To determine student’s knowledge, skills, or misconceptions prior to planning instruction.

• Give information on students’ mastery of content, knowledge, or skills.

• Provides feedback on progress toward those targets leading to more progress.

Answer explanation

Diagnostic

• To determine student’s knowledge, skills, or misconceptions prior to planning instruction.

• An example of this type of assessment would be when a middle school social studies teacher gives students a map and asks students to locate places, interpret the legend, and calculate distances prior to a unit on mapping. This would help a teacher know what vocabulary or skills needed to be taught.

Which of the following is an example of constructed response question?

• An acid*

  a. Turns red litmus paper to yellow

  b. Releases hydroxide ions in solution

  c. Tastes sour

  d. Feels slippery to touch

• Differentiate between an acid and a base.

• Acid, any substance that in water solution tastes _____ and changes the colour of certain indicators .

• True or False: Acid changes red litmus paper to blue.

Answer explanation

a constructed response question is basically short answer question.

Which of the following is an example of authentic assessment question?

• List the capitals of all countries.
• Write a summary of a book.
• Define the term 'assessment' in one sentence.
• Design a marketing plan for a local business.

Answer explanation

authentic assessment should give students real-life problems for them to solve

When assessments are _________, they are closely tied to classroom instruction. Teacher-made assessments may fail to be one because the teacher is attempting either to assess skills not taught or to assess those not included in the curriculum.

• Relevant

• Reliable

• Valid

• Fair

Answer explanation

Relevant

When assessments are _____, they measure what they are intended to measure, rather than extraneous features. An example of an "wrong" assessment of the ability to use a microscope correctly would be to give a pencil and paper test on the parts of the microscope. A more "correct" assessment would be to hand the student a slide and have him or her focus the slide under low and high power.

• Relevant

• Reliable

• Valid

• Fair

Answer explanation

Valid