Integration of Educational Technology - Unit 10 Assessment

Unit 10 Assessment

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Stiggins (2004) explains that assessment falls into four basic categories or methods (see page 90-93). Select one of the learning activities below, then describe which assessment method you would recommend and why. 

1. Ability to write clearly and coherently
2. Group discussion proficiency
3. Reading comprehension
4. Proficiency using specified mathematical procedures
5. Proficiency conducting investigations in science

Group discussion proficiency

As a disclaimer to my response, given latitude and therefore complete responsibility for my learners - as I have been for many of my teaching experiences abroad over the last decade - I have fallen prey to one of Stiggins' "Misconceptions About Assessment Methods" (p. 94).  I believe that we learn best by doing - and was very excited to find that Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. rather confirms this.  Specifically, I always ask my administrators, "Shouldn't we only be using 'authentic' assessments - performance assessments - to judge student progress?"

Now, I am definitely biased - in formal classroom environments, I have only taught language acquisition and the use of technology, both vocational and information.  To assess whether one of my learners has progressed, I feel I must ask them to perform a procedure or speak a language; ergo, performance assessment.

Back to the task.  To assess a learner's ability to discuss in a group, I would devise a rubric based on "several dimensions, such as ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency[,]" et cetera (Stiggins, p. 92).  Actually, I've done this many times and found it to be a very accurate assessment of how a learner will transfer their knowledge into a real world setting.  

I find the first two methods, selected and extended written response, a little irrelevant in an era where knowledge is at your finger tips and the ability to memorize for regurgitation - and give points based on what has been regurgitated.  I love the personal communication method, though, as it involves - when done correctly - much self-assessment for the learner.