A New Generation of Assessments Presented at NC SS Leaders Conference, October 2014 Courtney Tuck &...

These aren’t your Mama’s Test Questions!

A New Generation of Assessments

Presented at NC SS Leaders Conference, October 2014

Courtney Tuck & Melissa McGready- WSFCS

Session Goals Why “Old School” testing won’t work

anymore… What today’s testing needs to

accomplish… What makes a strong conceptual

Multiple Choice or Constructed Response question…

Time to practice writing questions…

The Big Picture

Ancient Egyptiansused shaduf tomove water to

theircrops.

Regulators were used on canals in

Mesopotamia to control the level of water in the

irrigation ditches.

An extensive canal system was used in the Indus Valley Civilization

of Harappa.

The Ancient Chinese created an irrigation system capable of water storing, channeling, irrigating and draining in the Western Zhou Dynasty

Your Mama’s Test Questions…

Memorization of facts Never-ending lists of people,

places, dates, & events Small % is retained


1. Which of the following acts required colonists to pay a tax on paper products?

A. Quartering Act

B. Stamp Act

C. Tea Act

D. Paper Act


Matching:

1. written language using wedge shaped characters

2. civilization on Tigris and Euphrates River

3. written language using symbols and pictures

4. some of history’s first written laws

5. civilization on the Nile River

A. Egypt

B. cuneiform

C. Mesopotamia

D. Code of Hammurabi

E. hieroglyphics


Fill in the Blank:

1. ___________________________’s 95 Theses resulted in the start of the Protestant Reformation.

2. The Catholic Church charged ___________________ with heresy because he said the earth revolved around the sun.

3. ____________________________ believed that all people have natural rights, including life, liberty and property.

4. _______________________ expressed the importance of a government with checks and balances and a separation of powers.

Galileo John Locke Martin Luther Montesquieu

Need for something new…

Conceptual teaching requires a new generation of assessmentsoBased on standards - not just factsoApplication of knowledge - not

memorization and regurgitationoRequires students to use primary

sources & stimulus material (maps, graphs, charts)

oRequires student to think critically

How to write strong assessment items…

Start with the standard you want to assess

Take note of the verb and what students should be able to do/understand

6.G.1.2 Explain the factors that influenced the movement of people, goods, and ideas and the effects of that movement on societies and regions over time.WH.H.6.4 Analyze the effects of industrialism and urbanization on social and economic reform.

How to write strong MC assessment items…

Phrase the item as a question

The first President of the United States of America was

A. Abraham LincolnB. Thomas JeffersonC. George WashingtonD. John Adams

How to write strong MC assessment items

Avoid using “NOT” or “All … except” in your questions

Which of the following was NOT a motivation for European Exploration?

A. Spread ChristianityB. Slave tradeC. Resources and RichesD. Fame and stature among leaders


Create answer choices that are all approximately the same length

What development marks the transition from the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic Era?

A. Use of irrigationB. Ability to farmC. Knowledge of fireD. Humans developed advanced

weapons that allowed them to protect

themselves.


All answer choices must be plausible

What was main complaint of the American colonists that pushed them toward revolution?

A. Taxation without representationB. Limits on trade and economic affairsC. Extreme dislike for the British flag design

& colorsD. Disagreements on how colonies should be

ruled


Avoid answer choices “All of the Above”, “None of the Above”, etc…

How did the economies of the East African city-states influence their culture?

A. Arab traders shared their culture with the Africans

B. Arab traders forced the Africans to give up their way

of lifeC. African merchants refused to trade with

MuslimsD. All of the above


___ 2. How did the religion of Judaism transform (change) the society in Mesopotamia?

A. Abraham was no longer the ruler of Ur. B. It introduced monotheism to a polytheistic society. C. The 10 Commandments replaced the Code of Hammurabi. D. It caused the overthrow of the Babylonian Empire.

6.C.1.2 Explain how religion transformed various societies, civilizations and regions.


___ Which statement best describes the information shown in the image above? A. Taxation Rate - those at the top pay the highest taxes B. Population - it shows how the number of people increased in Egypt over time C. Social Structure - each level was more important than the one below it D. Religious Beliefs - each level worshipped those in the next level above them

6.C.1.3 Summarize systems of social structure within various civilizations and societies over time.


• Strongest support in New England • Favored a strong central government • Supported by bankers and big business owners • Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams

• Strongest support in the South • Favored states’ rights • Supported by farmers and shopkeepers • Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

B a small grocery store owner in Georgia

C a small farmer in rural Pennsylvania

D a large shipping company owner in Massachusetts

Use the table below to answer the question.

Federalist Democratic-Republican

Which of the following individuals would have been most

supportive of the Federalist Party in 1800?

A a large plantation owner in Virginia

AH1.H.4.1: Analyze the political issues and conflicts that impacted the United States through Reconstruction and the compromises that resulted.

How to write strong Constructed Response items

Start with the standard you want to assess Take note of the verb and what students

should be able to do/understand

6.G.1.2 Explain the factors that influenced the movement of people, goods, and ideas and the effects of that movement on societies and regions over time.WH.H.6.4 Analyze the effects of industrialism and urbanization on social and economic reform.


When possible, mirror the verb from the standard

Use quantifiers in your prompt to guide student responses

Incorporate choices Stimulus material - quotes, reading

passages, charts, graphs, maps, images, timelines

Why did the world go to war in 1939?

Discuss how alliances changed the outcome of WWI.

How was the South affected by the Civil War?



Mount Rushmore- USA Abu Simbel- Egypt

Compare how these monuments reflect how the Ancient Egyptians and Americans value their leaders. Explain one way they are alike and one way their values are different.

Explain the impact of the printing press on the Renaissance/Reformation. Give two examples of how it impacted society.


1820 Missouri Compromise 1850 Compromise of 1850 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act

Choose one of the items listed and explain how political conflict led to the creation of the compromise or act. Then, explain why the compromise or act failed to resolve this conflict. (2 points)

AH1.H.4.1: Analyze the political issues and conflicts that impacted the United States through Reconstruction and the compromises that resulted.

Explain how the physical geography of a place influenced the development of industry. Then, provide one example of how industrialization changed

the environment.

WH.H.6.3 Explain how physical geography and natural resources influenced industrialism and changes in the environment.

Unit Test Suggested Breakdown

Unit Questions vs. Final Exam

Questions for summative tests at the end of your units will contain content specific material.

Questions on the NC Final Exam will most likely be more broad in their scope and not focused on a specific time or event.

We suggest you “Throw them a Curve” on every assessment throughout the year. Ask a question that applies the same concept but uses a new example with stimulus material students must use to answer it.

Practice Time… Within groups, practice writing a few

questionso Copies of Unpacked Standards for your

foundationo Stimulus material related to contento Tips for Effective Questions

Thank You!

We love our Mamas. We can even love your Mamas. But we can’t use the same test questions she took when she was in school. It’s time for a change…

Contact Information

Courtney Tuck - Middle School SS, WSFCS

[email protected] Melissa McGready - High

School SS, WSFCS

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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