When we think assessment, we automatically think tests. Can you think of other examples of assessment beyond tests?
Why yes I can. Jasmine and I had the wonderful opportunity to take an entire class devoted to assessment. Here are two examples of assessment that are different than testing:
Early Childhood Environmental Rating System (ECERS): The ECERS does not rate a student's performance, instead, it rates the classroom environment. On a scale of 1-6 (or 7, maybe 5), classrooms get rated on a very wide range of factors. These factors have a lot to do with things that can be literally numbered or measured--such as the number of books showing people of diverse backgrounds or the depth of the mulch on the playground. It dips a little bit as well into behavior management and student-teacher interactions. The main problem I find with this assessment is the level of feedback given to the teacher. An independent rater comes in to the classroom for one day and then observes for a few hours. The classroom will receive their scores but they won't know why they got the high/low score. The feedback is simply a number, which doesn't allow for much improvement.
Work Sampling: This assessment uses more of a portfolio approach to assess children. Teachers will collect a range of assignments and take notes throughout the year to look at the student's development over the course of a year. They will be focusing on a certain number of developmental benchmarks, such as one-to-one correspondence and holding a pencil correctly, and the teacher will check over the year if they fall under the "needs improvement", "in progress", or "proficient" category.
That's so interesting that they rate the classroom environment. I've never heard of that before. It seems like a good idea, but I'd agree that it doesn't sound as effective as it could be. Perhaps an explanation with the number rating? Do you think there would be value in seeing beyond the "measurable" things for this kind of test? I feel like a great classroom environment isn't just the result of curriculum, books, resources, but the teacher.
ReplyDelete