Assessments
How do you know what students know? There is a difference between regurgitating facts and demonstrating conceptual understanding. It is important to develop and/or adopt assessments that appreciate this difference. It is also critical that the assessments are aligned to this new way of teaching and learning. This requires thinking about assessments both as demonstrating knowledge and as continuation of learning experiences. Below are some tools and models assessments we have used to help guide the creation of NGSS-aligned assessments.
Tools to Help Create Your Own
Are your students really demonstrating understanding? Many districts in Wyoming are also working on developing "proficiency scales". This is especially challenging in light of the 3-dimensionality of the NGSS/WYSS. Proficiency scales that are based only on the DCIs (content) do not provide ample evidence of what students need to know and be able to do in science, thus the complexity increases! Below are some resources we have been developing to help deal with this complexity.
The Essentials (Achieve)
Figuring out how develop 3D assessments can be a challenge. These resources from Achieve will help you to identify key components of 3D assessments.
Task Annotation Project (Achieve)
Review the following annotated lesson plans. They incorporate information that documents how effectively 3D assessment was achieved.
3D Science Assessment Task Checklist
Use these checklists to evaluate the three dimensionality of the assessments you have created.
3D Science Assessment Task Checklist_Elementary.pdf3d Checklist (Elementary)
3D Science Assessment Task Checklist_Secondary.pdf3d Checklist (Secondary)
WYTOPP Testing
In the Spring of 2021, the WDE will be using a new assessment to measure K-12 science learning. They have contracted with American Institute for Research (AIR) to design these assessments. There are several other states who have also contracting with AIR. Below are links to California's sample tests, as example of their work.
