TASK 2 - Principles of High Quality Assessment

FIELD WORK 2 - Principle of High Quality Assessment

TASK:

Gather data (through interview with a teacher) on how principles of high quality assessment are implemented (or considered). Provide suggestions on how the current practices may be improved in order to ensure that the principles are considered in conducting assessment. Answer may be supported with pictures.

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS:

Description of the practices and suggestions clearly show understanding of each principle and how the principle may be applied in teaching.

OUTPUT:

School: Future Center School for Special Needs

Address: Mussafa, Abu Dhabi City, U.A.E

Date of Interview: November 3, 2019

Name of the Teacher: Ms. E Saunders (Special Education Teacher)

PRINCIPLES OF HIGH QUALITY ASSESSMENT

CLEAR AND APPROPRIATE LEARNING TARGETS:

When teacher plan for his/her instructions, the learning target should be clearly stated and must be focus on student learning objectives rather than teacher. In Ms. E Saunders class as what i observed she told me the importance of determining what is essential for the lesson. She also emphasize the Blooms Taxonomy which can provide a clear guidance to achieve the clarity and appropriateness of the learning target. Teacher needs to plan with the end in mind and have a clear understanding of what students should understand and be able to do at the end of the a unit, or larger sequence of lesson. Once that is clear, teacher need to determine each lesson-sized chunk of learning that will make up the learning journey. For Teacher Saunders it is really important to know what will students need to learn and understand on her lesson. What have they learned in previous lessons and where will they headed after lesson.

Suggestions:
In making a learning targets it should clearly state what you expect students to know and be able to do at the end of the lesson. As a teacher we have to know what are the different learning targets of our students that needs to be achieve.

APPROPRIATENESS OF ASSESSMENT METHOD:

Appropriateness of Assessment determines if an assessment tool is suitable for the type of topic used as learning target. The following are the kinds of Assessment method:

• Written-Response
• Product rating scales
• Performance Test
• Oral questioning
• Observation and self report

Upon interview with Teacher Sunders since the class is a Special Education, it needed a more consideration in making the appropriateness of assessment on her students. Written-Response is usually one of the method she uses. These are the objective test that has right or wrong answer and so can be mark objectively. She uses simple and easy objectives test like for example Multiple Choice were it can be constructed in such a way as to test higher order thinking skills of the students. Another example is the True or False which the students indicates weather each of the several statement are true or false.

VALIDITY:

Extent to which an assessment accurately measures what is intended to measure.
In my interview with Teacher Saunders, the given example is the validity of reading ability of a student. A student reading ability can have an impact on the validity of an assessment. For example if the student having a hard time comprehending what is the question is asking, a test will not be an accurate assessment of what the student truly knows about the subject. Educator should ensure that assessment is at the correct reading level of the student.

RELIABILITY:

The extent to which an assessment method or instrument measures consistently the performance of the student. Assessment are usually expected to produce comparable outcomes with consistent standards over time and between different learners. Teacher E Saunders example in application of reliability was the internal consistency of the test items. For example if she makes a quiz to measure her student ability to solve a math equations, She should be able to assume that if a student gets an item correct he/she will also get other similar items correct.

Suggestions:
Instruments such as classroom test and curriculum standardized exams should be reliable. It should not make any difference whether a student takes the assessment in the morning or afternoon, one day or the next.

FAIRNESS:

Refers to the consideration of learners needs and characteristics and any reasonable adjustments that need to be applied to take account to them. It also includes opportunity for the person being assessed to challenge the result of the assessment and to be re-assessed if necessary.
Teacher E. Saunders emphasizes the importance of fairness in her classroom. She told me that learning should give equal opportunity to all students irregardless of their learning capabilities. It should not mixed with any discrimination like racial discrimination, language discrimination, age and gender discrimination and others.

Suggestions:
As teacher to promote fairness in classroom is very important. Promote gender and racial equality in all subjects. Give equal praise and expectations in any subject. Create a well develop and clear expectations for all students.

POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES:

Also known as Positive Reinforcement. It is a response to something good that the student is doing. It can still be a learning opportunity, but the response has to be something that will make the student want to continue those behaviors that you want to see more of.

In class of Teacher E. Saunders positive reinforcement are always use every single day. Like for example if the student will be able to finished a certain task with out any bad behavior, the student will be given praises and a reward of excellent stickers. Another example of Teacher E. Saunders is that when students raises their hands to answer question, which is a good behavior, she give them a piece of candy, or an extra time to play, or a simple high five or a good job points.

Suggestions:
Positive consequences is effective way to manage misbehaving students in the classroom, rather than using punishment. Teacher must develop good techniques in implementing positivity of consequences to deal with unwanted behavior and to motivate your student to be cooperative inside the classroom, and as a teacher we have to try to find ways to motivate and encourage all our students, regardless of their assessment scores.

PRACTICALITY AND EFFICIENCY:

Assessment should save time, money and it should be resourceful. Teacher E. Saunders explained that teacher familiarity with method is very important. Teacher should be familiar with the assessment. Know the strengths and limitations, therefore they can properly interpret students responses. Taking unfamiliar assessment method creates a risk on time and resources therefore will get questionable results from students responses.

For example: If we require our student to make a project or any or any output to student we should put into considerations if they can afford the expenses of the said project/outputs. And as a teacher we should let out student develop their own critical thinking to use materials that they know that it will make their work successful.

ALIGNMENT:

What is taught is approximately the same as tested. As per school curriculum lesson plan of teacher should align with the designed standard program.

Suggestions:
Steps in Achieving the Alignment:

• Understand School curriculum documents.
• Specify cognitive depth, range and balance.
• Provide more detail for curricular expectation where necessary to better support teaching learning and assessment.
• Develop Classroom assessment.
• Identify appropriate theories of learning and motivation.
• Determine instructional strategies.