Assessment By: Sara, Dara, Sirica, Kim, Haley Authentic Assessment What it is? Is a form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge/skill. It looks very natural. Student performance on a task is scored on a rubric to determine how successfully the student has met specific standards. Authentic tasks is an assignment given to students designed to assess their ability to apply standard driven knowledge and skills to real-world challenges. When do you consider a task Authentic? Students are asked to construct their own responses rather than to select from one presented The task models challenges faced in the real world Why should you use Authentic Assessment? Authentic Assessment provides the students with information about how well they are learning and what areas need improvement Authentic Assessment integrates teaching and learning Authentic Assessment provides many paths to demonstration Steps in Creating Authentic Assessment 1) Identify the Standards 2) Select an Authentic task 3) Identify Criteria for the task 4) Create the Rubric Examples of Authentic Assessment Creating a recipe Inventing something useful Producing a video Making a computer program Making a map Writing/directing a play Writing a brochure These are only a few tasks that match important, real-life tasks that are commonly planned/assigned by teachers. In the Classroom with Authentic Assessment The main scope of AA is that the students will be able to use their skills in the real world The learning of students is based on their own personal experience. (Vygotsky/Piaget) Since AA is based on performance this gives students a chance to evaluate their own work This assessment is more student centered Performance Assessment What is it? Is an approach to measuring a student’s status based on the way that the student completes a specified task Some educators often refer performance assessment to very different kinds of assessment approaches When Do You Consider a Task Performance? Tasks that are designed for students to demonstrate their understanding by applying their knowledge to a particular situation Why Should You Use Performance Assessment? Dissatisfaction with selected-response tests. The influence of cognitive psychology. The sometimes harmful instructional impact of conventional tests. Examples of Performance Assessment Observing student’s independent/group work Creating a woven basket Performing a dance or a monologue Presentation Teacher-made test (Short-answer & essay) Singing a song In the Classroom with Performance Assessment Educators have become strong educators of Performance Assessment because: Represents an alternative to traditional paper-andpencil tests and Is often more authentic (tasks people need in the real world) The assessment allows teacher to observe the students behavior/attitudes on a particular task This assessment is more teacher centered What is Traditional Assessment? The Setting of Goals Collection of Evidence Tests Teacher Created Standardized Teacher Created Assessments Multiple Choice Fill in the Blanks True/False Matching Standardized Tests FCAT NRT SAT/PSAT GK FTCE (Many others) Why Traditional Assessment? A school’s mission is to develop productive citizens To be a productive citizen, an individual must possess certain knowledge and skills Schools must teach this body of knowledge and skills Students are tested to see if they have acquired these knowledge and skills Drawbacks of Traditional Assessments Designed to represent competence by extracting knowledge and skills from their real life contexts Tend to test only one domain of knowledge or skill A one time measure that rely on a single correct response to each item. Offer no opportunity for demonstration of thought process, revision or interaction with the teacher Can not measure higher order thinking skills because it does not involve analysis, interpretation of multiple perspectives Must be kept under lock and key so students do not have answers prior to the test. “Benefits” of Traditional Assessment Reliable Efficient Right or wrong answers Confident it is an accurate score Easy for the teacher What Does Traditional Assessment Look Like in the Classroom? Tests Students quietly and individually working at their seats Paper and pencil Possibly scantrons What is a Rubric? A rubric is the guide used to score performance assessments in a reliable, fair, and valid manner and is generally composed of dimensions for judging student performance, a scale for rating performances on each dimension, and standards of excellence for specified performance levels (PALS 2005). How is a Rubric Helpful to Teachers and Students? A rubric is helpful to a teacher because it allows them to set clear standards and expectations for students to meet. A rubric allows students to know exactly what is expected and how the assignment will be scored. A clear rubric can prevent miscommunication about assignments between teachers and students. Steps to Developing a Successful Rubric Decide what type of project you are trying to grade and define your objectives for the students’ learning. If possible, look at previously completed assignments from former students to see if anything was left out of your initial decision. Define each dimension of the assignment that the student is expected to complete. Define a grading scale or point system you will assign to each part of the assignment. It may be helpful to “test” your rubric on previously completed work from past students to see if the rubric grades fairly on all aspects of the assignment. Make sure all students receive the rubric when the assignment is given. (Schrock 2005). What Does a Rubric Look Like? A good rubric should be clear and easy to read. It will have well organized columns and rows that state the teacher’s expectations of the student’s work. Example of a Rubric Assignment Indicator of Success Points Build a model of the Solar System. The student will have all nine planets in order with each labeled and resembling the real planet in color and size. 25 Choose one planet and write a five paragraph essay about it. The essay should focus on one planet. 5 The essay should exhibit correct grammar and be free of punctuation mistakes. 25 The essay should give at least 5 characteristics and facts about the planet. 45 Total points 100 Teacher’s Comments What is…. Feedback/Forward Student feedback is regularly described as a process which “should inform the ongoing professional process of self-reflection, development and enhancement of learning and teaching. The fundamental purpose behind feedback is to enhance the quality of students’ educational experience’” (Loughborough 1998) Feed Forward: “The process of using criteria to communicate about student work in progress so that it can be improved as it is being developed.” Feedback……. Can be given to an individual, group, or whole class Takes place between the teacher, student, and parent Can be nonverbal, verbal, or written Two Types Evaluative Giving rewards and punishments Expressing approval and disapproval Descriptive Telling children they are right or wrong Describing why an answer is correct Telling children what they have and have not achieved Specifying or implying a better way of doing something Getting children to suggest ways they can Feed Forward Evaluates student performance at current level Tells the student where they need to be going Must have a clear purpose and well-defined standards Takes place in the middle of learning Basic Principles of Effective Feedback/Forward Be Specific: Focus on behavior rather than on the person: Takes into account the needs of the receiver: Solicited, rather than imposed: Involves sharing of the information rather than giving advice: Well timed: Checked to insure clear communication: Impact in the Classroom Students acquire and maintain most of the instructive feedback information they receive Helps students develop appropriate strategies for improving their school performance Prevents students from continuing to practice error responses Provides additional opportunities to increase learning Motivation The drive to do something What causes you to work toward betterment The reason you get up and go to work Why you strive to achieve goals Desire to participate in learning EXTRINSIC Satisfactory completion INTRINSIC ACHIEVEMENT Personal Competition engagement high Influenced by Interest in subject Personal rewards/pressure challenge Surface approach Reflects personal Timeto learning goal management and organization Fear of failure Competence and Personal levels of confidence achievement Learning Deep approach Know content but outcomes not and conceptual not how to apply transferable to understanding other subjects The Impact of Motivation in Assessment Students are more motivated when Assessment is essential to learning They have some control over content There are opportunities for them to relate to subject matter on a personal level Challenge stimulates learning They get feedback that opens doors Stimulating Attention . . . Stimulates Motivation Anticipation Hope Fun Acceptance Surprise Self-confidence Power Importance Control Challenge Self-efficacy Intrigue Peer- and Self-Assessment Students are involved in judging their own work Learner stays engaged in their work Retain control and ownership Promotes an internal locus of control Gives students power References Brandt, Ronald S., (1992) Reading from Educational Leadership on Performance Brown, S., Armstrong, S., Thompson, G. (1998). Motivating Students. London: Kogan Page. Tileston, D. (2004). What Every Teacher Should Know About Student Motivation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin P. Liskin-Gasparro, Dr. Judith (1997) Comparing Traditional and Performance-Based Assessment Accessed March 20, 2006. http://www.sedl.org/loteced/comparing_assessment.html Mueller, Jon Authentic Assessment tool box. Accessed March 20, 2006. http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/whatisit.htm PALS Guide. (2005). Rubric. Center for Technology in Learning. Accessed March 11, 2006. pals.sri.com/pals/guide/glossary.html. Popham, W. James, (1999). Classroom Assessment What Teachers Need To Know Schrock, Kathy. (2005) Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators. Discovery Education. Accessed March 11, 2006. http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/Assessments /Ideas_and_Rubrics/Create_Rubric/create_rubric.html.