Waiting until learning is complete to correct gaps or misconceptions can sometimes be too late. Changing instruction in the moment as a response to how and what students are learning is the key to ensuring that all students succeed. Technology certainly makes the formative assessment process easier and more effective.
What do the most difficult assessment items look like in English Language Arts and Math? How can we prepare our students for increased rigor on Common Core Assessments, including those aligned assessments in Advanced Placement Courses, International Baccalaureate, and on the SAT and ACT exams?
According to Hattie (2009), who did a meta-analysis of hundreds of studies, formative assessment is in the Top 10 of effective teacher practices. So, the question becomes “How and when do I do formative assessments to maximize their effectiveness?”
Susan M. Brookhart, Ph.D. focused on creating or adapting rubrics for classroom use. The session emphasized how to write criteria and performance level descriptions that assess student learning and how to involve students in using rubrics.
Are you using games in the classroom? Have you thought about bringing games to your class or institution? Would you like to find out more about the value of using games to engage and assess students?
Digital imagery offers countless new opportunities for teachers to assess student understanding. In this webinar, Sara Torpey considered practical approaches to both formative and summative student assessment that can be used immediately!
Testing season is upon us, and this year everyone – students, parents, administrators, and teachers – is especially anxious because in most states there will be new, more rigorous tests. So what’s a teacher to do? Give students volumes of practice tests? Cram more content into the school day? Wear out your students with studying? Not according to the research.
Informal formative assessment practices can assist daily, to solicit input and provide feedback to students. These practices can be used to adjust instruction in a timely fashion in order to best meet the needs of students in your classroom.
Games can be powerful vehicles to support learning, but their success in education hinges on getting the assessment part right. FSU Professor Valerie Shute explored how games can use stealth assessment to measure and support the learning of critical 21st century competencies. She discussed what stealth assessment is, why it is important, and how to develop and accomplish it.
