Assessment overview part-2_spring2013b

IS:Defined Concept

Core Subject [Social Studies] Standard 3.9

The student will identify examples of making an economic choice and will explain the idea of

opportunity cost (what is given up when making a choice).

IS: Defined Concept

Valid Type(s) ofConstructed

Response

Valid Type(s) ofSelected Response

Fill-in-the-Blank

Labeling

Short Answer

Essay

Project Performance

Multiple Choice

Matching True/False Ordering

Paul just moved into a new apartment. He has many choices to make during the first few weeks living in the new place. Which of the questions is an example of an economic choice Paul might make?

a. Where should I place my couch in the living room?

b. Should I buy a new flat screen television set for my living room?

c. Should I call my mom and talk with her about the problems I am having with my new bathroom?

d. Should I invite my new neighbors over to share the home-warming cake my mom baked?

IS:Rules

Core Subject [Social Studies] Standard 3.9

-modified-

Given an example of making an economic choice, determine three opportunity costs.

IS: Rules

Valid Type(s) ofConstructed

Response

Valid Type(s) ofSelected Response

Fill-in-the-Blank

Labeling

Short Answer

Essay Project Performance

Multiple Choice

Matching

True/False

Ordering

List three opportunity costs resulting from your decision to buy a new Nintendo Wii gaming system.

IS:Higher Order Rules

Core Subject [Social Studies] Standard 1.10

The student will identify and apply the traits of good citizenship.

IS: Higher Order Rules

Valid Type(s) ofConstructed

Response

Valid Type(s) ofSelected Response

Fill-in-the-Blank

Labeling

Short Answer

Essay

Project

Performance

Multiple Choice

Matching True/False Ordering

After watching a video clip from the movie “Toy Story,” describe three different ways in which Woody demonstrated good citizenship.

A

Core Subject [Social Studies] Standard 1.10

Value honesty and truthfulness in oneself and others.

Core Subject [Social Studies] Standard 1.10

-modified-

The student will choose to apply the traits of a good citizen.

Attitudes

Valid Type(s) ofConstructed

Response

Valid Type(s) ofSelected Response

Fill-in-the-Blank Labeling

Short Answer

Essay

Project

Performance

Multiple Choice

Matching True/False Ordering

Teacher: I am going to put a star sticker next to your name every time I notice you acting like a Good Citizen in this class.

MS

Core Subject [Social Studies] Standard 1.5

The student will construct a simple map of a familiar area, using basic map symbols in the map legend.

Note: At one level, this is a higher-order rule. At a first-grade level, this also involves motor skills associated with drawing in general.

Motor Skills

Valid Type(s) ofConstructed Response

Valid Type(s) ofSelected Response

Fill-in-the-Blank Labeling Short Answer Essay Project

Performance

Multiple ChoiceMatching True/False Ordering

Using anything you want from the “Arting” table, make a map of your neighborhood. Don’t forget to include basic mapping symbols, and include a legend.

Step Three

Follow the rules…

Rules based on…

Evidence of Validity: Ensure items address targeted Skills, Knowledge, and Attitudes/Dispositions (SKA)

Maximize Grading efficiency (time and accuracy)

Maximize probability that correct answers reflect SKA performance (minimize correct answer guesses - Type I Error – False Positive)

Maximize probability that incorrect answers reflect SKA performance (Type II Error – False Negative)

Encourage thinking about the questions

1. General

Rule 1.1: Write clear, concise, simple directions free of complex syntax or difficult vocabulary.

Example:

Bad DirectionsNewton’s Three Laws of Motion defined an entire field of physical science for many years. Name them.

Better DirectionsName Newton’s Three Laws of Motion.

1. General

Rule 1.2: All assessment items must clearly elicit the performances articulated within the objectives under the same conditions stated.

Example:

Objective: Given the mass of an object (in kilograms) and the acceleration of the object (in m/s2), the learners will calculate the force in Newtons.

1. General

Bad Assessment

Suppose a 1500 gram ball was thrown off the roof

of a 2-story (approximately 7 meters high) building.

What force will the ball apply to the ground when it

hits (in Newtons)?

Better Assessment

Suppose a 1.5 Kg ball was thrown against a wall

with an acceleration of 2 m/s/s. With what force will

the ball hit the wall (in Newtons)?

1. General

Rule 1.3: Include reminders to perform certain steps if needed.

Example:

Draw a picture of a typical animal cell and label all the cell parts. Don’t forget to draw very clear lines from your labels to the cell parts (use arrows if needed).

1. General

Rule 1.4: Included clear evaluation criteria if the assessment tasks are particularly complex.

Example:

Explain possible mechanisms involved in producing elevated global temperatures as a result of the greenhouse effect.

Make certain that your answer references the chemical characteristics of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, the flow of energy resulting in atmospheric temperature changes, and at least 3 specific natural and 3 specific artificial sources of hydrocarbon emissions contributing to changes in atmospheric concentrations of hydrocarbon gases.

2. Multiple Choice

Rule 2.1: Do not use any choices that are obviously incorrect.

Example:

How many centimeters are in a meter?a) .001b) 1.00c) 100d) 3.12

2. Multiple Choice

Rule 2.2: Ensure that words such as a, an, he, she, or plural words are not used to cue learners toward the correct answer.

Example:

Pierre de Fermat is best known as aa) Inventorb) Scientistc) Mathematiciand) Teacher

2. Multiple Choice

Rule 2.3: Don’t use “All of the Above.”

- If one choice is wrong, all of the above is wrong

- None of the above is ok

2. Multiple Choice

Rule 2.4: Don’t use words like “All” or “Never” in the answer options.

These terms almost always signify an answer option that is incorrect.

2. Multiple Choice

Rule 2.5: Don’t repeat words from the question in the answer options.

Example:

Which of the following represents the best description of Natural Selection?

a)The natural process responsible for the origin of new species and the adaptation of organisms to their environments.b)The procedures involved in cultivating the best possible type of offspring from a population of adult organisms.c)The adaptation of organisms their environment.

2. Multiple Choice

Rule 2.6: Don’t use negative answer options following a negative question or stem.

Example:

Which of the assumptions about Natural Selection is NOT true?

a)Organisms reproduceb)Traits vary among offspringc)Offspring do inherit traits from their parentsd)The environment does not limit the size of populations.

2. Multiple Choice

Special Note: Paired MC items CAN be used to measure higher-order thinking skills:

Example:

1. Suppose a frozen turkey was thrown from an airplane at 5,000 meters…

2. Which of the following BEST explains why the answer chosen for item 1 is true?

2. Multiple Choice

See Assessment Guide for More…