Webinar -> Giving Meaning to Test Scores

Objectives of the webinar: the webinar talked about
1- how technology changed assessment;
2- interpreting, integrating and acting on results;
3- factors affecting reliability and validity;
4-What the future holds.

• Why do we assess?

In education, measurement provides feedback. It allows for a better understanding of what students know and what they are ready to learn next.

• Assessment goals:

Classroom and large scale assessments help all students learn and succeed in school by making as clear as possible to them, their teachers and other education stakeholders:

- The nature of their accomplishments
- The progress of their learning

• Assessment does not stand alone 

• Assessment delivery:

          - Computer-adaptive tests (CATs)

          -Stealth assessments 

          -Performance tasks

• Integrated and continued assessment: everything counts 

•  Classroom assessment practices should provide consistent, dependable, and appropriate information that supports sound interpretations and decisions about each student's knowledge and skills. 

• Different aspects of reliability: 

• Evidence of validity:

  

• Factors that affect reliability:

        - Students variation from occasion to occasion

        - Different test taking population 

        - Item quality

        - Insufficient samples of items 

        - Any change to the test (shorter, longer...) 

        - Variation in the testing condition

        - Unexpected events (fire alarms...) 

• Factors that affect validity:

         - Population different than intended

         - nonstandard administration

         - Scores used for a purpose different than intended

         - Irregularities

         - Accommodation or modification not implemented for identified students 

• The future

Assessment will be integrated more fully with learning activities 

And remember! Technology should support teachers, not supplant them.