Student Assessments

1. Performance Based

1.1. Performance Based Assessments is a strategy of testing whether or not students can apply their knowledge to real world applications. Rather than simply answering a multiple choice questions, it requires students to solve a problem and demonstrate the strategies that they used. This type of assessment is designed as an assessement of learning. Curriculum is not designed around it but it serves as a way of testing the the students ability to take the content from the lesson and apply it to group work or a problem solving situation. The purpose is to address not whether or not they know the material but how well they know it. They are useful in tying in prior knowledge to see if the students are able to pull everything they have learned together and make connections. It is also useful to make cross disciplinary connections. The disadvantage of performance based assessment is that much of the information they supply is based on student opinion and subjective so teachers need to be careful how they evaluate the results.

1.1.1. Performance Based Assessments in Middle School History

2. High Stakes

2.1. High Stakes Assessments are standardized tests whose results are used to make important decisions about the students. The purpose is often to evaluate the performance of schools against the federal, state standards and local standards. The advantage is that it is a way of assessing and comparing the performance of schools across the board on a level playing field. It is used as a means of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of different schools, districts and stakes and can be used to make modifications and improvements where necessary. The disadvantage is that the assessment puts pressure on the teachers to perform well and often leads to instruction based on the test or 'teaching to the test.'

2.1.1. High Stakes Assessments in Middle School History

3. Portfolio

3.1. Portfolio assessment is a way evaluating a students learning through a portfolio of projects and achievements that are developed by the student to demonstrate what they have learned. The purpose is to encourage student driven learning and assess the student based on their progress throughout the year and not purely against other students. Portfolio assessments are an assessment of learning.  The advantage is that the it encourages the students to take pride in their work and promotes self evaluation, reflection and critical thinking. This disadvantage is that the planning for evaluation require the teacher to invest extra time and some of the grading may be subjective and yield criticism. This system of assessing may be new to parents and make them critical of the process by which their children are being evaluated.

3.1.1. Portfolio Assessment in Middle School History

4. Authentic

4.1. Authentic assessments allow for students to demonstrate what they have learned in a 'real world application. The purpose is to give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a task or project and use higher thinking skills. Authentic assessments are designed as assessments of learning. The positive aspects of authentic assessment is that anytime you can make a real world application of knowledge students engagement is heightened. I have not found any negatives of this type of assessment other than they can be challenging to plan for - especially for a new teacher. The opportunity to make real world and big idea applications is there but it takes some thoughtful planning to reach them.

4.1.1. Authentic Assessments in Middle School History

5. Self-Assesment

5.1. Self assessment is the process by which teachers ask the students to reflect on their work and judge how well they did on assignment and how they would grade themselves. The purpose of self assessment is to serve as a reflective and understanding process through which the students gain an understanding of what makes a piece of work good. The positives of self assessment are that reflection on ones work gives a deeper understanding of what they learned and may help to identify areas that they still need support in. The negatives are that in order to provide valuable, thoughtful reflection the students need to have an understanding of exactly what the criteria for the assignment are.

5.1.1. Self Reflection in Middle School History

6. Peer Assessment

6.1. Peer Assessment is the process of having students grade each others papers or tests. The purpose of peer assessment is to allow the work to be graded quicker and provide feedback faster to the students. The positive aspects of peer assessment are that: 1- it provides the students with feedback faster 2- Students can benefit from learning from reviewing the writing, observations and work of their peers 3- Because it free's up time for the teacher it allows for more time to be spent reviewing errors with indidividual students and helping them to understand what they did wrong.

6.1.1. Peer Assessment in Middle School History

7. Diagnostic

7.1. Diagnostic assessments are prelearning assessments that provide useful information to instructors about the information that the student already possesses and what they need to learn. The purpose is to use them as a way of planning for learning and to develop and adapt learning plans based on the needs of the students and can help the teacher plan for differentiation where needed. The disadvantage of diagnostic asssessment is that the results may lead to the teacher to make assumptions about the student ability level that are not accurate. They are used as an assessment for the planning of learning.

7.1.1. Diagnostic Assessment in Middle School History

8. Formative

8.1. Formative Assessments are used to check continually for learning throughout the instructional process and can be used to guide instruction and plan for future lessons. They do not require to be formally graded rather reviewed by the teacher as a way of understanding student comprehension. The advantage is that by frequently working formative assessments into the lessons the teacher has an understanding of where the students may need additional supports or when they are ready to move on. The disadvantages is that if conducted in the form on an entrance ticket or exit ticket they do require extra planning and can take up instructional time. However, the benefit they provide far outweight the disadvantages.

8.1.1. Formative Assessments in Middle School History class

9. Summative

9.1. Summative assesments are a culminating test usually at the end of a chapter or unit of instruction. There purpose is to check for learning and understanding of the material covered. The advantages are that they are motivational and require the students to study and pay attention in class so that they can perform well on the test. The disadvantages is that they are a test of learning not for learning the test for understanding is done when the teacher has completed the instruction and before moving on to the next unit.

9.1.1. Summative Assessments in Middle School History class