Improving Student Learning
Teachers are routinely tasked with identifying where students are at in regards to demonstrating mastery of learning. They are asked to identify the need for enrichment/intervention for groups of students as well as identify learning strengths, gaps and weaknesses for individual students. Item level data available in the CRS can support teachers in this quest. Since the focus of this section is on improving STUDENT learning, our emphasis will focus on using current year data for teachers to use with current students. Item level data is available from the use of Restart Readiness Assessments, both Benchmark and Checkpoint assessments.
Sample Scenarios
The following scenarios showcase specific examples of how the various item analysis methodologies can be used to improve student learning.
Problem of the Day
A checkpoint assessment can be used as an instructional tool throughout a week-long topic of study. Checkpoint assessments contain 6 - 10 questions focused on an individual reporting category. The Restart Readiness assessments have the ability to pause student tests for up to seven days; a teacher could start the testing session, and then pause the students assessments so they can space out the completion of the various questions throughout an instructional unit.
Improving Writing
A 7th grade ELA teacher uses a benchmark assessment to analyze data. She reviews the writing dimension results showcasing an aggregate view of how students performed according to the writing rubric components. She then looks at individual student writing samples to identify needs of individual students and groups of students.
Explore: Using the ODE Training Demo Site, open the 7th grade ELA benchmark used as pre-instruction
Building Endurance
One teaching team identified a need for students to build their endurance in taking extended OST-type assessments. They began by using a Checkpoint Assessment during an October instructional unit. In December, they stacked two Checkpoints together so students completed approximately 20 questions in one sitting. In February, the team utilized a full-length Benchmark Assessment to familiarize students with the timing they'll experience during the actual testing window.
Using as Pre-Test
Teachers can use benchmark and/or checkpoint assessments to determine the students prior knowledge of grade level topics. When using a benchmark assessment as a pre-assessment, the 5 Best and 5 Worst sections of the Performance on Assessment report can inform standards of which students may need more/less instructional support. The standards key toggle easily shows/hides the standard for each question.
Unit Tasks
In this scenario, Checkpoint Assessments are used as a closing activity to gauge depth of knowledge. Student teams were assigned an appropriate Checkpoint based upon classroom assessment data. Each team collaboratively worked to solve the questions of the checkpoint assessment; each student was responsible for presenting their solution to two questions of the Checkpoint to the class.