Student Assessments
by Andrea Stewart
1. Diagnostic
1.1. Definition: Diagnostic assessment is used to determine the current level of knowledge and skill of a learner.
1.2. Advantages: They provide a baseline for understanding how much learning has taken place after the learning activity is completed.
1.3. Disadvantage: Pretest can cause anxiety in students who aren't sure of the material.
1.4. Examples: previous school assessments, pre-test, interviews, and teacher questioning.
1.5. Is designed as an assessment For Learning because it is used by teachers to work with the student to understand and identify any gaps or misconceptions.
2. Formative
2.1. Definition: Formative assessments provide support for the learner based on their unique learning level. Formative assessments help teachers identify concepts that students are struggling to understand.
2.2. Advantage: provides feedback for teachers to modify subsequent learning activities and experiences.
2.3. Disadvantage: teachers that lack training on how to use formative assessments successfully.
2.4. Example: Exit slips or exit tickets that quickly collect student responses to a teacher's question at the end of a lesson or class period.
2.5. Is designed as an assessment For Learning it is used by teachers during the learning process in order to modify teaching and learning activities to improve student attainment.
3. Summative
3.1. Definition: Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning progress and achievement at the conclusion of a specific instructional period. Usually at the end of a project, unit course, semester, program, or school year
3.2. Advantage: Information can be used formatively when students or faculty use it to guide their efforts and activities in subsequent courses.
3.3. Disadvantage: Can reflect closely on teacher performance.
3.4. Examples: midterm, final project, a paper or a senior recital.
3.5. Is designed as an assessment Of Learning because it is used to assess the students understanding of the material at the end of a unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark.
4. Performance Based
4.1. Definition: Performance assessments requires students to demonstrate knowledge and skills, including the process by which they solve problems. Performance assessments measure skills such as the ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines, contribute to the work of a group, and develop a plan of action when confronted with a new situation.
4.2. Advantage: Instruction in most subjects areas is being altered to include more practical applications of skills and to incorporate a greater focus on the understanding and combining of the content and skills.
4.3. Disadvantage: Usually include fewer questions and call for a greater degree of subjective judgement than traditional testing methods.
4.4. Examples: group projects, essay assessing students understanding of a subject, experiments testing how well students understand scientific concepts, and portfolios.
4.5. Is designed as an assessment Of Learning because students obtain content knowledge, acquire skills, and develop work habits that can be practiced in real world situations.
5. High-Stakes
5.1. Definition: High Stakes assessments that have important consequences for the test taker. There is a direct consequence for passing or failing.
5.2. Advantages: For example the PSAT allows the student to understand where their weakness are which can allow them to strengthen those areas for the SAT.
5.3. Disadvantages: High pressures assessment. For example a high school student might feel pressure to perform well on the SAT.
5.4. Examples: entrance exams, S.A.T., No child left behind tests that effect school funding and rating. High School exit examination.
5.5. Is designed as an assessment Of Learning because students are evaluated on everything they have learned. The assessment a final and sometimes there are consequences for doing poorly.
6. Portfolio
6.1. Definition: Portfolio assessments are a collection of student work that demonstrates what they have learned so that you can monitor their progress with fewer test.
6.2. Advantages: They allow the teacher to see the student as an individual, each with his or her own unique set of characteristics, needs and strengths.
6.3. Disadvantages: Parents can often be skeptical about measurements other than grades and test scores
6.4. Examples: examples of written work, journal logs, peer reviews, self evaluations, test, and quizzes
6.5. Is designed as an assessment Of Learning because it contains a summative presentation of an individuals skills, ideas, interest, and accomplishments.
7. Authentic
7.1. Definition: Authentic assessment are assessment that resemble reading and writing in the real world and in school. It assesses many different kinds of literacy abilities in contexts that closely resemble actual situations in which those abilities are used.
7.2. Advantages: Students are learning how to apply important knowledge and skills for authentic purposes.
7.3. Disadvantages: Can be difficult to implement in a structured curriculum setting. For example in the public school.
7.4. Examples: read real text, write for authentic purposes about meaning topics, keep journals, write letters. Instead of identifying all the metaphors in a story ask them to discuss why the author used particular metaphors and what effect they had on the story.
7.5. Is designed as an assessment Of Learning because it is an end of year assessment where student demonstrates that they understand content, knowledge and skills for authentic purposes.
8. Self-Assessment
8.1. Definition: A self-assessment is an assessment of oneself or one's actions and attitude , of one's performance at a learning task in relation to an objective standard.
8.2. Advantages: monitor and evaluate the quality of the students thinks and behavior when learning. Identifies strategies that improve the students understanding and skills.
8.3. Disadvantages: If student doesn't understand the process of self-judgement or self-monitoring. Also if student cannot implement strategies to improve performance.
8.4. Examples: self -evaluation and reflection
8.5. Is designed as an assessment For Learning because students identify their learning and performance strategies, provide feedback to themselves based on well-understood standards and criteria, and determine the next steps or plans to enhance their performance.
9. Peer Assessments
9.1. Definition: Peer assessment is a process where peers grade assignments or test based on a teacher's benchmark.
9.2. Advantages: can promote motivation, internally controlled effort, mastery goal orientation, and more meaningful learning
9.3. Disadvantages: Grade inflation can occur as peers my grade another peer higher than a teacher would have.
9.4. Examples: grading papers or assignments
9.5. Is designed For Learning because students are able to see mistakes and correct any problems in future assignments.
10. Sources
10.1. Authentic Assessment Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from https://www.teachervision.com/teaching-methods-and-management/educational-testing/4911.html Chapter 1. What is Performance-Based Learning and Assessment, and Why is it Important? (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/196021/chapters/What_is_Performance-Based_Learning_and_Assessment,_and_Why_is_it_Important¢.aspx Parenthetical Check paper for grammar errors Diagnostic and Formative Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/assessment/formative.html Formative vs Summative Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/assessment/howto/basics/formative-summative.html High-stakes testing. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-stakes_testing Peer assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_assessment Portfolios. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2016, from https://www.teachervision.com/assessment/teaching-methods/20153.html
