Assessment Strategies

Effective assessment practices challenge students to reach new levels of learning and understanding. Before a teacher can make this happen, a clear idea of where the assignment or project fits with respect to the intended learning expectations or expected growth in student learning is necessary. Therefore, identifying learning outcomes or expectations is an important first step in creating assessment practices that reinforce growth in student learning. A teacher's expectations of student outcomes will differ based on the level
of the course and the needs of students. For example, a beginning level course may stress the acquisition of new ideas, whereas an advanced level course may emphasize a student's ability to extend their learning into new situations.

Selecting Appropriate Assessment Tools

When gathering evidence to ensure learning expectations are being met, it is important for teachers to select an appropriate assessment practice. For example, if a teacher's expectation is for students to explain basic IDEAS, then written tests and quizzes will generally do the job. If, however, a teacher expects his or her to make CONNECTIONS through problem solving, then more complex methods of gathering evidence are required. Therefore, in collecting evidence of student learning over the course of a unit or term it is useful to think of a continuum of possible assessment methods.

The following diagram is an example of how a teacher might use different assessment tools over the course of a unit or term. Depending upon expectations, the timing of when an assessment tool is to be used needs to be considered.

Beginning                                                             Middle                                                                     End

When I consider how well a learner performs a mathematical operation or a related task, I do not think of the performance as being either right or wrong. Instead, I aim to place the performance along a continuum from exceptional to not up to expectations.

Other Methods by Which Students may be Evaluated

· Quizzes; tests; exams

· Written reports, essays

· Oral presentations, exams

· Debates with classmates

· Group assignments

· Peer-teaching/tutoring

· Models

· Critiquing

· Projects

· Portfolios

· Independent Study

· Effort; homework completion

· Simulations

· Videos