Assessment

What do you know about assessment? This is important to think about as you plan for your work sample assessments and when you revisit your eportfolio!!! Yes, we will be revisiting the eportfolio.....probably in the next seminar. There is a section under CEC standards specifically about assessment. Specifically, it states the following:

Standard #8: Assessment
Assessment is integral to the decision-making and teaching of special educators and special educators use multiple types of assessment information for a variety of educational decisions. Special educators use the results of assessments to help identify exceptional learning needs and to develop and implement individualized instructional programs, as well as to adjust instruction in response to ongoing learning progress. Special educators understand the legal policies and ethical principles of measurement and assessment related to referral, eligibility, program planning, instruction, and placement for individuals with ELN (Exceptional learning needs), including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Special educators understand measurement theory and practices for addressing issues of validity, reliability, norms, bias, and interpretation of assessment results (you will learn more about this in Teachers as Consumers of Research next summer). In addition, special educators understand the appropriate use and limitations of various types of assessments. Special educators collaborate with families and other colleagues to assure non- biased, meaningful assessments and decision-making. Special educators conduct formal (standardized or initial/pre) and informal(teacher-made or prescribed formative) assessments of behavior, learning, achievement, and environments to design learning experiences that support the growth and development of individuals with ELN. Special educators use assessment information to identify supports and adaptations required for individuals with ELN to access the general curriculum and to participate in school, system, and statewide assessment programs. Special educators regularly monitor the progress of individuals with ELN in general and special curricula. Special educators use appropriate technologies to support their assessments.i.e. graphs, tables, etc.

You are planning summative and formative assessments for your work sample.
Your initial assessment(s) is/are directly tied to your unit objective(s)
When you write your unit objective it needs to be tied directly to what you will assess before and after you teach. Make your unit objective about the outcome you want to see in your students. Your strategies of getting to that outcome are everything in between i.e. Your daily lesson plans. Your final assessment is measuring exactly the same thing as the initial (this process is summative).

Formative assessment is measuring progress all along the way as you teach each day. Yes! Every day you need to have DATA!!! You must have a measurable lesson objective each day for the data to make sense. Measurable means criteria! Don't forget... If you want to post or email your objectives you can get immediate feedback!