What should I consider while planning successful STEM assessments?
There are several components that contribute to meaningful STEM assessments. One thing to keep in mind is that assessment should be viewed as “a process.” For example, there is not one “test” that reveals a complete summary of academic performance. Instead a series of assessment strategies should be implemented to assess student learning.
Students […]
SELF-STUDY: Common Core Assessment & Evaluation (5 hours)
“ How do you plan to evaluate your classroom
on the Common Core State Standards? ”
Successful implementation of the Common Core (CCSS) is rooted in being able to identify in which areas students need support. However, most teachers don’t have time, resources or skills to conduct regular intensive assessments. This course […]
How does assessment work in differentiated instruction?
While implementing differentiated instruction, learners design their own rubrics and set their own achievement levels. They may be allowed to determine their own readiness level after demonstrating a level of prior knowledge. Teachers provide guidance and facilitation by incorporating collaboration and conference time as a part of each culminating activity. Teachers may also […]
How can Individual and Group Reading Assessments be Used in the Classroom?
Individual reading assessments are assessments where the teacher spends time with every student individually to assess their reading skills. This helps teachers fully understand the progress of the students who can benefit with special undivided attention. However, a major disadvantage is that the teacher would need a lot of time to complete an […]
SELF-STUDY: Formative Assessment (5 clock hours)
“The low performing high school is now
classified as a School of Progress.”
Is your school moving in the right direction?
Can you tell if students are learning – how can you tell?
Three years ago Brian Creasman became principal of a “low performing” high school and was confronted with these two questions. A high […]
How can I Implement a Formative Assessment System while Teaching in the Classroom?
In today’s classrooms, teachers can use various methods to determine student mastery of the subject. For instance, a teacher may survey the classroom to see by a show of hands which students got the answer correct. One of the primary purposes of a formative assessment is to guide instruction, therefore, real-time data in […]
How can the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale be used to Assess Reading?
Vocabulary Knowledge Scale is a simple informal assessment that can be used to assess a student’s knowledge of words that they need to know. Students are given a list of words and are asked to rate the words depending on how well they know them. This process helps them recall words, and also […]
How do I give Effective Feedback to Students?
Contrary to popular belief, the process of grading students is not idealy complete even after the assessments have been graded. Teachers need to take time to meet with students and talk about the assessment, to provide feedback to students and help them understand why the question was wrong or right.
We also want to […]
How can I use Pre-assessment for Gifted Students in the Classroom?
Teachers have the option to administer the end of the chapter test before the content has been taught, in order to validates what the learner knows. Unfortunately, this does not offer direction on where the student should be headed. Pre-assessment, which takes many forms other than pre-testing, is a preferred approach.
One of the […]
What is Backward Design in Education?
For many years, external and standardized testing molded design learning experiences that would bring students toward mastery of what was on associated tests. However, as teachers were not the architects of these tests, there was sometimes a disconnect between the tests and the reality of the educational terrain (relevance to student and meaningful […]
