Assessment
Assessment is the process of gathering, measuring, analyzing, and reporting data on a students' learning. It helps teachers determine how much children learned and how well they learned it. Assessment can also be used to determine the effectiveness of the instruction. Interacting with students about their performance can become an integral part of the learning process.
In contrast, evaluation involves judging the quality of student work or instruction. For example, it may include a final score or grade. Formative evaluation is used while materials are being developed to assist in revision and improvement. Summative evaluation is used to evaluate instruction that has concluded.
Student Performance Assessment
Student performance assessment is a vital component of a well-rounded educational program. According to Information Power (1998, p. 173), "assessment differs from evaluation, with a literal meaning of placing value; evaluation evokes a quantitative or judgmental quality." Performance assessments often encompass both the process and the product of a learning activity and are often done with the student rather than to the student.
Assessment Tools and Strategies
There are dozens of different assessment tools that can be adapted to fit the needs of your students. These include anecdotal reports, checklists, conferencing, conversations, journals, peer assessment, portfolios, progress reports, quiz, rubrics, self assessment, scored discussion, and test.
Complete Assessment, Evaluation, and Curriculum Redesign the free, online workshop from Educational Broadcast Corporation.
Explore the Assessment Home from NW Regional Educational Laboratory.
Go to Teacher Tap: Student Project Assessment. Explore the assessment tools and resources.
View Authentic Learning and Assessments (Real Media - 2:48).
In this video interview, Daniel Callison discusses authentic learning and authentic assessments including portfolios and measurements with emphasis on process rather than product.
Go to the Real website to download a free player.
View Assessment (Real Media - 8:33).
In this video, Bernajean Porter discusses assessment, reasons for assessment, what is being measured, information shift and change, and lifelong learning. She also highlights three areas of assessment: (1) traditional, (2) performance-based, and (3) portfolios, benchmarked to national standards – Excerpt from “Integrating Technology in the Curriculum”, Canter & Associates
Go to Learning Science through Inquiry (Windows Media Player).
Choose the Assessing Inquiry workshop video.
This video shows scientific inquiry assessment with real teachers and students in real classrooms.
(You will need to register for this FREE website from Anneberg/CPB.)
Read Appendix E: Student Performance Assessment in Information Power (1998, p. 173-182) to learn more about the process of collecting, analyzing, and reporting student performance data.
Read Chapter 8: Assessment for Learning by Sharon Coatney in Curriculum Connections through the Library edited by Barbara K. Stripling & Sandra Hughes-Hassell.
Read Authentic Assessment by Daniel Callison. Originally published School Library Media Activities Monthly 14, no. 5 (January 1998).
Key Words
Learn More
Abilock, Debbie (November/December 2000). Leveraging Assessment for Learning. Knowledge Quest.
Big List on Assessment from edutopia
Johnson, Denise. Web Watch: Assessment Resources. Reading Online.
Project Basics - Assessment from 2Learn.ca
Project Basics - Assessment in Practice from 2Learn.ca
Examples of Good Assessments from Delta College, MI
Holloway, Robert Evan, et. al. (1997). Authors Suggest Ways to Develop Assessment Tools for Information Literacy and Assessing Information Literacy: Agreeing on Concepts (Treasure Mountain Conference) in Smart Library on Literacy and Technology.
McKenzie, Jamie (1996). A Measure of Student Success: Assessing Information Problem-Solving Skills. FNO.
Student Assessment Resources from 2Learn