Course Example #3

Brewster Summer Institute - 2011

Student Assessment

Presenter: Peter Hess

Course Description:

In this course you will learn how to go about the process of assessing student learning. A central question for this session would be “How can we best assess whether students have learned what has been taught?” You will begin by developing an understanding of Bloom’s taxonomy (revised). This will provide you with an understanding of a range of thinking skills, which are essential for development of quality assessments for students. From here you will learn how to create teacher made tests that best measure what has been taught.

Finally, you will learn how these principles get translated into the Brewster Program. You will learn the answers to the following questions. What educational assessment principles are employed at Brewster? What constitutes ‘mastery’? How do our grade reports and transcripts articulate these principles for students and parents?

Learner Outcomes:

• Given a STAD activity, you will demonstrate an understanding of the different levels of Bloom’s taxonomy.
• Given a direct teaching lesson, you will demonstrate an understanding of many different types of test questions by creating examples of different types of questions that meet appropriate evaluation criteria.
• Given a direct teaching lesson, you will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of alternative assessment and techniques that can be used to provide students with alternative assessments.
• Given a reading and a direct teaching lesson on educational assessment principles and on grading procedures at Brewster, you will be able to complete an assessment test with 80% accuracy.

Readings and Materials:

“Glover, J. and Bruning, R., (1990). Educational Psychology, Principles and Applications. Harper Collins Publishers, p. 362-365.

“Assessing Student Achievement at Brewster Academy - Position Paper”

Reading Questions:

• What are the 3 purposes of assessment?
• What are the main components of Brewster’s approach to assessment?

Teaching Strategy:

Direct teaching, cooperative learning, and a reading will be the primary means of delivering the information needed to use Bloom’s taxonomy, create teacher made tests, create authentic assessments, and understand how grading is accomplished at Brewster.

Assessment Component:

You will demonstrate understanding of the learner outcomes by completing the following products:

• Completion of a digital quiz on Bloom’s Taxonomy
• Development of different types of test questions
• Completion of alternative assessment ideas worksheet
• Completion of a worksheet that demonstrates understanding of grading principles employed at Brewster.

Overview of Activities:

9:00 - Introduction to Educational Assessment

9:45 – STAD activity on Bloom’s taxonomy – complete worksheet on discriminating different levels of thinking skills

10:45 –Bloom’s Taxonomy Quiz

11:00 - Presentation on teacher made tests

11:45 - Teacher made tests – independent practice activity

12:15 - Lunch

1:00 - Review Teacher made tests – independent practice activity

1:15 – Alternative Assessment overview, independent practice, and discussion

2:15 – Direct teaching lesson on how educational assessment principles apply to grading procedures at Brewster

2:30 - STAD activity on above

3:00 – Reflection activity