Getting Smarter & Long Term EL Symposium
January 14, 2015
Access PPT at: http://goo.gl/60r3Dc

1. Clarify the role of formative assessment and the
Smarter Balanced Digital Library in a balanced assessment system
2. Explore the Digital Library and discuss potential uses, challenges, and next steps for rolling out this tool within their district or school
Access PPT at: http://goo.gl/60r3Dc

Smarter Balanced Formative Assessment
Practices
Formative assessment is a deliberate process used by teachers and students during instruction that provides actionable feedback that is used to adjust ongoing teaching and learning strategies to improve students’ attainment of curricular learning targets/goals.

Smarter Balanced Formative Assessment
Practices
Formative assessment is a deliberate process used by teachers and students during instruction that provides actionable feedback that is used to adjust ongoing teaching and learning strategies to improve students’ attainment of curricular learning targets/goals.
Also referred to as assessment FOR learning

Attributes of Formative Assessment Process

A Smarter Balanced Assessment System
Summative assessments:
Benchmarked to college & career readiness
Common Core
State Standards specify K-12 expectations for college & career readiness
Formative assessment practices:
Resources to improve instruction
Teachers
& schools have information
& tools they need to improve teaching & learning for all students
All students leave high school college & career ready
Interim assessments:
Flexible, open, & used for actionable feedback

Interim and Summative Assessments
● Event
● Periodic
● May be state-mandated, publisher-made, or teacherdesigned
● Often standardized
● Happens after material has been taught
● A snapshot in time
Formative Assessment Practices
● Process
● Ongoing
● Curriculum and instructionallyembedded
● Teacher-made, studentinvolved
● Happens while material is being taught
● A moving picture (journey)
Essential Question: How can we help students learn more?
Essential Question: What have students already learned?

Digital
Library lives here

IS...
● A collection of approved instructional or professional learning resources that
● Align with CCSS
● Incorporate at least 1 of formative assessment attributes
● Demonstrate high-quality instruction
● Address diverse learners
● Are engaging and userfriendly
IS NOT...
● A bank of test or assessment items
● A repository of teacher lesson plans
● A place where educators can complete online PD courses
● A library for the general public
● A website to freely post teacher resources

www.smarterbalancedlibrary.org

Suggested Activities
1.
Find a Professional Learning Resource that you could use with staff
○ Under filter “Resource Type”, select “Professional Learning
Resource”
○ Under filter “Module Type”, select a learning focus (Assessment,
ELA, Math, Reports)
1.
Find an Instructional Resource that teachers could use in their classrooms
○ Under filter “Resource Type”, select “Professional Learning
Resource”
○ Pick a grade level and content area
○ Pick 1 or more of the formative assessment attributes

● What resources did you find that were valuable?
● How might you see principals and teachers using the
Digital Library back at your district?
● What are some potential cautions or challenges that you foresee in rolling out this tool?

1.
Use one of the professional learning modules to facilitate conversations or PD on the role of formative assessment practices in a balanced assessment system
1.
Schedule a structured, hands-on opportunity for teams of teachers to learn about and explore the Digital Library
1.
Select 1 of the 4 formative assessment attributes to study and review/share/use resources from the DL that include this attribute

CDE Digital Library Overview
CDE Digital Library FAQs
Demo Video: Getting Started in the Digital Library
Demo Video: Collaborating in the Digital Library
Laura Watson, CDE
916.323.8351
digitallibrary@cde.ca.gov

Karla Groth, Interim Senior Director
858.292.3688; kgroth@sdcoe.net
Shannon Coulter, Lead Coordinator
858.292.3593; scoulter@sdcoe.net
Todd Langager, Program Evaluation Coordinator
858.569.5305; tlangager@sdcoe.net