Matching Learning Matching Learning Objectives and Assessment Objectives and Assessment

MethodsMethods

Classroom Assessment SeriesClassroom Assessment Series

Fall 07Fall 07

Assessment Is…Assessment Is…

When you hear the term When you hear the term “assessment,” what does it make “assessment,” what does it make you think of?you think of?

How is “assessment” being used in How is “assessment” being used in your department/field?your department/field?

How and when is assessment How and when is assessment effective, in your opinion? effective, in your opinion?

What would you like to learn today?What would you like to learn today?

Assessment is…Assessment is…

……a process of gathering information a process of gathering information from from multiplemultiple sources to discover sources to discover what students know, understand and what students know, understand and can do (KSAs*) with what they have can do (KSAs*) with what they have gained or been exposed to in classgained or been exposed to in class

……what have the students learned? what have the students learned? And how well? how can the results be And how well? how can the results be used to improve learning?used to improve learning?

Benefits of Using Frequent Benefits of Using Frequent Assessment OpportunitiesAssessment Opportunities

Practice using new knowledge; Practice using new knowledge; deeper learningdeeper learning

Frequent feedback; opportunities to Frequent feedback; opportunities to adjust performance and try again adjust performance and try again (become more efficient, effective, (become more efficient, effective, innovative over time)innovative over time)

Experience real problems/situations Experience real problems/situations and the many ways prof’s in the field and the many ways prof’s in the field seek info, seek info, organizeorganize it, describe it, it, describe it, useuse it to invent potential solutionsit to invent potential solutions

Benefits continued…Benefits continued… Learn from colleagues (as in real world)Learn from colleagues (as in real world) Learn criteria for quality work and how Learn criteria for quality work and how

to use them to monitor work, self-to use them to monitor work, self-adjust, make improv’s, and reflect on adjust, make improv’s, and reflect on where to still improvewhere to still improve

Receive support from instructor while Receive support from instructor while learning and doing the assignmentslearning and doing the assignments Coach, facilitate process, points to resources, Coach, facilitate process, points to resources,

encourages, gives feedback, partners with encourages, gives feedback, partners with learners, plans class time that employs activities learners, plans class time that employs activities that USE course materialthat USE course material

Benefits…Benefits…

Integrates basic knowledge, practice Integrates basic knowledge, practice usingusing it, and general education skills it, and general education skills (communications, problem-solving, (communications, problem-solving, teamwork, writing…)teamwork, writing…)

Matching LO’s and Ass’sMatching LO’s and Ass’s

1.1. Where does your course fit into the Where does your course fit into the curriculum?curriculum?

2.2. What experiences do your students What experiences do your students need to have in your courses so need to have in your courses so that, combined with other courses, that, combined with other courses, they will achieve program they will achieve program outcomes?outcomes?

3.3. What are the intended learning What are the intended learning outcomes for your course? Can you outcomes for your course? Can you identify the sub-KSAs students need identify the sub-KSAs students need to achieve them? to achieve them?

Matching Los & Ass’sMatching Los & Ass’s4. How will you know if your students achieve 4. How will you know if your students achieve

the outcomes?the outcomes?

5. How can these outcomes and assessment 5. How can these outcomes and assessment plans guide your decisions about plans guide your decisions about curriculum design? (backward design)curriculum design? (backward design)

6. How can you use the results of the 6. How can you use the results of the assessments a) to improve individual assessments a) to improve individual student performance and b) to make student performance and b) to make adjustments to your course to better adjustments to your course to better prepare them to achieve higher prepare them to achieve higher performance?performance?

Type of Assessment MeasuresType of Assessment Measures

Indirect: Indirect: self-report surveys self-report surveys

about how they are about how they are learning (e.g., learning (e.g., knowledge surveys, knowledge surveys, CATs) CATs)

Surveys on how Surveys on how course format is course format is helping/hindering helping/hindering their effortstheir efforts

Direct measures of Direct measures of learning:learning:

ProjectsProjects ProductsProducts PapersPapers Exhibits/Exhibits/

performancesperformances Case StudiesCase Studies PortfoliosPortfolios InterviewsInterviews Forward-looking Forward-looking

examsexams Backward-looking Backward-looking

exams/quizzesexams/quizzes

Assessment Results…Assessment Results…

One or all of these:One or all of these: Provide evidence of learning or quality Provide evidence of learning or quality

of learning (graded or self-assessment; of learning (graded or self-assessment; if latter, practice using criteria too)if latter, practice using criteria too)

Provide opportunities for immediate, Provide opportunities for immediate, discriminating (based on criteria) discriminating (based on criteria) feedback for improved future practicefeedback for improved future practice

Assign a gradeAssign a grade

Series: Learn More About…Series: Learn More About…

Creating and using CATs in your classCreating and using CATs in your class Creating and using exams/quizzes for Creating and using exams/quizzes for

your classyour class Creating rubrics for projects, Creating rubrics for projects,

products, performances, portfolios, products, performances, portfolios, interviews for your classinterviews for your class

Creating and using portfolios in your Creating and using portfolios in your classclass