Assessment and Resources

1. Assessment and Resources Technology in Education

2. Agenda Six key elements 21st Century Learning 21st Century Learning Skills 21st Century Assessment What are assessment tools? General Assessment Tools Electronic Portfolios Rubrics Scoring Guides Tests and Quizzes Blackboard Assessment Tools Questions/Answers

3. 6 Key Elements of 21st Century Learning Emphasize core subjects Emphasize learning skills Use 21st century tools to develop learning skills Teach and learn in a 21st century context Teach and learn the 21st century content Use 21st century assessments that measure 21st century skills

4. 21st Century Learning Skills Information and Media Literacy Skills Communication Skills Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking Problem Identification, Formulation and Solution Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills Self-Direction Accountability and Adaptability Social Responsibility

5. 21st Century Assessment

6. What are assessment tools? Methods of gathering data about learner performance and understanding

7. General Assessment Tools Electronic portfolios Rubrics Scoring guides Tests and Quizzes

8. What are Electronic Portfolios? Collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the internet E-portfolio Digital portfolio text electronic files images multimedia blog entries hyperlinks

9. Purpose of Electronic Portfolio Provides evidence of achievement over a period of time Supports assessment work that can be collected in real-time Exhibits students efforts and progress Provides a method of reflection/personal development Provides a formative/summative evaluation of student work

10. Process of Electronic Portfolio Development Assess/Decide – focus on needs, goals, and tools Plan/Design- organizing, designing Develop – gather materials to include Implement – presentation of… Evaluate- is it effective for purpose and goals

11. Common Features of Electronic Portfolios Lists student’s academic work Lists student’s accomplishments Professional Academic Lists student’s future goals Lists student’s

12. Benefits of Electronic Portfolios Pros Shifts responsibility to student Demonstrates intellectual, electronic, and professional competence Shows a 24/7 accessible digital resume Shifts the emphasis from teacher directed learning a to student centered approach Offers a means to document a learner's growth Help focus the direction of future leaning Facilitate organization of content Meta-cognitive strategies are used to find meaning in their learning offer easy storage, low costs

13. Limitations of Electronic Portfolios Lack of experience with technology Time consuming Scaffold is necessary System capabilities Scaffolding refers to the idea that specialized instructional supports need to be in place in order to best facilitate learning when students are first introduced to a new subject. Scaffolding refers to the idea that specialized instructional supports need to be in place in order to best facilitate learning when students are first introduced to a new subject.

14. Examples of Student Electronic Portfolios Anitra Cooper Erin Banks Sara Coleman Anitra Cooper Angelia Jones Tambria Neal Dominic Thigpen Chimere Turner Kiffany Ward Kenya Washington Carlos Wilson Courtney Woodard

15. Rubrics Scoring tool that lists the criteria for a piece of work or 'what counts.' Tells students that their work will be judged on: Purpose Organization Details Voice Mechanics

16. Rubrics Common Features Focused on measuring a stated objective (performance, behavior, or quality) Use a range to rate performance Contain specific performance characteristics arranged in levels indicated the degree to which standard has been met

17. Rubrics Pros Helps define quality Students accept responsibility for their work Reduce time for grading Helps teacher explain grades and how to improve Cons Outside circumstances are not taken into consideration Can be too analytical for artistic projects 1.) They don't always take outside circumstances into account If you have a student who tries hard but has learning problems, a rubric may not be the best tool for you. Rubrics only take into account the finished product. Unless you make a point to include credit for effort and time, then most rubrics won't count these elements. For most students, this doesn't matter. But if you have students with learning disabilities, you may want to consider scrapping the rubric tool or redeveloping it so it takes into account things like progress, effort and other outside circumstances. 2.) Can be too analytical for artistic projects Most teachers find that a rubric can be tailored for any kind of student project, but artistic work is the hardest to grade with a rubric. There are so many intangible factors in an art project--creativity, inspiration, personal history--that grading with a rubric can seem impossible. You would almost certainly be forced to make assumptions about student work, and this could lead to disputes about grades. Don't force a rubric onto an art project; if you can develop one that works, great, but don't turn art into an analytical field--you won't get the best results. Hopefully, these pros and cons will help you decide if a rubric is right for your next project. There are an infinite number of variations in rubrics, so if you decide to you one you'll have a number of options from which to choose. Need Effective Rubrics? If 1.) They don't always take outside circumstances into account If you have a student who tries hard but has learning problems, a rubric may not be the best tool for you. Rubrics only take into account the finished product. Unless you make a point to include credit for effort and time, then most rubrics won't count these elements. For most students, this doesn't matter. But if you have students with learning disabilities, you may want to consider scrapping the rubric tool or redeveloping it so it takes into account things like progress, effort and other outside circumstances. 2.) Can be too analytical for artistic projects Most teachers find that a rubric can be tailored for any kind of student project, but artistic work is the hardest to grade with a rubric. There are so many intangible factors in an art project--creativity, inspiration, personal history--that grading with a rubric can seem impossible. You would almost certainly be forced to make assumptions about student work, and this could lead to disputes about grades. Don't force a rubric onto an art project; if you can develop one that works, great, but don't turn art into an analytical field--you won't get the best results. Hopefully, these pros and cons will help you decide if a rubric is right for your next project. There are an infinite number of variations in rubrics, so if you decide to you one you'll have a number of options from which to choose. Need Effective Rubrics? If

19. Scoring Guidelines A  scoring guide  is an assessment tool used to judge the quality of student performance in relation to content standards.  Scoring guides provide specific criteria to describe a range of possible student responses and a consistent set of guidelines to rate student work.  There are many sites on the Internet which allow teachers to create their own scoring guide or have scoring guides already created that can be used as is or modified to fit their needs.  

20. Scoring Guide items Resources: items necessary for successful completion of activity Structure/organization: acceptable layout Content: everything included in the activity

21. Scoring Guide Example The following criteria should be met for "A" level work.Resources:  Use of at least 3 recent library readings/references (last 5 years); or the equivalent on internet; or documented interviews with teachers, administrators, students; or school, district, or state data such as curriculum materials, policy manuals, statistics, etc. or direct observations of school board meetings, site councils, classrooms, etc. (COMBINATIONS ARE OK!)

22. Scoring Guide Example cont… Structure/Organization: Double-spaced, word processed, 1 inch margins, 12 pitch font size, bold-faced headings and subheadings (or on work sheets provided). Conventions: spelling, usage, paragraphing, sentence structure APA referencing only Length/format appropriate to topic/project (10 pages, typically)

23. Scoring Guide Example cont… Content: Clarity/Focused: Topic is clearly stated early on, focus is maintained, supportive material is related to focus. Relevance: Proposal's relevance to the author is discussed; proposal’s relevance to the chapter topic is explicit; proposal's relevance to understanding American education, past, present, and future is explained. Accuracy: Facts/figures are correct and justified with references.

24. Scoring Guide Example cont… Knowledgeable: Author is clearly knowledgeable about topic and expresses those understandings; the topic is well-researched; reader learns something! Completeness: Thorough coverage of topic; limitations are expressed; proposal is a unified whole. Creativeness: Transcends "regurgitation" of materials; demonstrates production of new ideas rather than consumption of what others have done; envisions with fresh eyes; original.

25. Scoring guides pros and cons Pros Raises the bar for student achievement Evaluates learning in an objective way Prepares students for standards to be met Cons Maybe vague Doesn’t include comments

26. Tests and Quizzes The purpose of tests/quizzes is to help keep current with the course content Allow student to assess knowledge of several concepts being presented in the course.  Two types: paper-based and CBT (Computer Based Tests)

27. Tests and Quizzes Paper-based Tests taken on paper Online Tests taken on a computer

28. Tests and QuizzesFunctions Diagnostic Assessments Prior to learning Identify learner strengths and weakness Formative Assessments During learning Guide an individual student's progress Improve the curriculum Summative Assessments After learning For high-stakes evaluation, grading, & certification

29. Tests and Quizzes Pros No special training needed, staff may feel more secure No need for technical staff Can be difficult to update, looks messy if changed Files are easily lost Information takes longer to find/sort Space Cons Slow and time consuming Expensive Reliable is questioned… May lose test/may get stolen

30. Tests and Quizzes Pros Faster turn around time More accessible Less cheating and plagiarism incidents Cons Initial installation is costly and challenging Learning curve (time needed) Technical problems/Security issues Ability to capture/score essay information

31. Blackboard Assessment Tools Assignment Tool controls submission dates and times repository for file attachments (any file type including Ms. Word, PowerPoint) Quiz & Survey Tool (Question Bank allows five (5) types of Questions) Multiple Choice Matching Calculated Short Answer Paragraph Discussion Tool Public Group Anonymous discussion

32. Questions and Answers

33. Contact Information Dr. Jeton McClinton jeton.mcclinton@jsums.edu