EDU304 & EPS300 Week 1: Assessment Policy
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Questions and Answers

What is the main purpose of formative assessment?

  • To identify gaps in knowledge after instruction.
  • To evaluate student knowledge at the end of a course.
  • To compare student performance against national standards.
  • To modify teaching strategies based on ongoing student progress. (correct)

Which statement best describes the interaction between teaching and assessment?

  • Assessment should occur only at the end of a learning period to ensure accuracy.
  • Teaching does not require regular feedback from assessments.
  • Students should conduct assessments without teacher involvement.
  • Teachers must assess student progress to adapt their instruction effectively. (correct)

Which of the following is a key component of diagnostic assessment?

  • It serves primarily to rank students' performances.
  • It takes place after instruction to measure overall success.
  • It identifies specific learning needs of students. (correct)
  • It is unrelated to any specific learning needs.

What question does formative assessment seek to answer regarding student learning?

<p>Where are students currently in their learning process? (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of summative assessment?

<p>It occurs after teaching has taken place to evaluate outcomes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What best describes assessment as a process?

<p>It includes interpreting and using information about progress. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which stakeholder is most importantly involved in the assessment process according to the framework?

<p>Children (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is meaningful assessment characterized in the context of learning and teaching?

<p>It is collaborative and integral to high-quality teaching. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does assessment provide information about in a child's learning process?

<p>How the child learns and what the child learns. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the black box analogy of classroom assessment, what are considered inputs into the educational experience?

<p>Demands and pressures from various sources. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of assessment as outlined in the primary school curriculum?

<p>Assessment should provide a complete picture over time. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about assessment is NOT true?

<p>Only formal assessments are necessary to understand a child's progress. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT a purpose of assessment in the learning context?

<p>To provide performance scores to parents only. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What must teachers prioritize when assessing students according to the curriculum?

<p>Knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and dispositions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which Act requires schools to identify and provide for the educational needs of all students, including those with special needs?

<p>Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a requirement of the Education Act (1998)?

<p>Regularly evaluate students and report the results (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of assessment includes both spontaneous and planned evaluations?

<p>Informal assessment methods (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as part of the continuum of assessments?

<p>Community feedback (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is according to the Data Protection Act regarding access to students' personal data?

<p>Schools should store this information securely until students' twenty-first birthday (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does triangulation of assessment material involve?

<p>Combining various assessment methods (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which requirement is placed on schools regarding assessment policies according to the Education Act?

<p>To develop a comprehensive school plan that includes an assessment policy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 'Purposes of Assessment' quiz?

<p>To self-assess learning (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which document provides guidelines for assessment in primary schools?

<p>Primary School Curriculum (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which year were the NCCA Guidelines for Assessment published?

<p>2007 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which authors discussed the concept of assessment literacy and student learning?

<p>Douglas Smith et al. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action must students take to access course content on Moodle?

<p>Use an enrollment key (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Equal Status Act (2000) in the context of assessment?

<p>To prohibit discrimination in the information gathered during assessments (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004) require from schools after assessments?

<p>To create an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for the child (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to assess children's learning according to school policy?

<p>To help teachers identify valuable information for guiding learning (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following should a school assessment policy address?

<p>The types of curricular areas that should be assessed (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of assessment is covered by the question 'When should assessment happen?' in a school policy?

<p>The schedule and timing of assessments throughout the school year (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to good teaching practices, assessment results should be used to:

<p>Inform decisions about future educational strategies (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of assessment information, what role does sharing with others play in the school policy?

<p>It enhances collaboration and support among educators (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental principle established by GDPR regulations relevant to primary schools?

<p>Personal data must be processed lawfully and transparently (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of diagnostic assessment in schools?

<p>To ensure that the needs of all children are met (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of skills should be assessed during the early years?

<p>Literacy, numeracy, and developmental skills (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which classes is standardized assessment required?

<p>2nd, 4th, and 6th class (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where should the information from assessments be recorded?

<p>Teacher’s day-to-day records, Pupil File, and Report Card (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who has the right to access assessment information according to the Data Protection Act?

<p>Parents and guardians of the student (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How frequently should assessment information be shared with parents?

<p>Twice during the school year, including one written report (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What must be done with assessment information until a student reaches their 21st birthday?

<p>It must be stored and accessible (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does assessment play in educational practice?

<p>It helps identify areas for student improvement and inform teaching strategies (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Formative Assessment

Assessment used during teaching to inform and improve learning. It helps the teacher understand student progress and adjust the lessons.

Summative Assessment

Assessment that takes place after teaching to evaluate learning. It provides an overall measure of student understanding.

Diagnostic Assessment

Assessment used to identify specific learning needs. It helps determine where students are strong and where they need extra support.

Ongoing Assessment

Formative assessment is done frequently during instructional time.

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Assessment for Learning

Assessment that guides teachers and students in their understanding of learners' progress.

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Assessment Definition

Gathering, recording, interpreting, using, and reporting information about a child's progress and achievement in knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

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Purpose of Assessment

Building a picture of a child's learning progress over time, understanding how they learn (process) and what they learn (outcomes), and providing support for future learning.

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Assessment's Role in Learning

Assessment is integral to learning and teaching, providing information for all stakeholders, especially the students.

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Assessment Continuum

Assessment is a continuous process throughout a student's learning journey, not a single event.

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Stakeholders in Assessment

Children, teachers, parents and others are all involved in the process, with assessment providing information to improve teaching and support learning.

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Classroom as a Black Box

The classroom is viewed as a complex system with various inputs and influences (students, teachers, resources, etc.) that affect learning.

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Meaningful Assessment

Collaborative assessment that is essential for high-quality learning and teaching, involving everyone involved.

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Assessment in Primary Curriculum

Assessment in primary schools focuses on understanding a student's learning journey across subjects.

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Assessment Purpose

The reason why we assess students. It helps us understand if learning is happening and how to support it.

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Teacher Role in Assessment

Teachers must be skilled in using assessment to inform their teaching and guide student learning.

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Assessment and Teaching

Assessment should drive teaching decisions, helping teachers adjust their lessons based on what students know.

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Assessment Methods

Different ways to gather information on student learning, like observations, projects, and tests.

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Assessment Records

Where we keep track of student progress, including teacher notes, student files, and report cards.

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Sharing Assessment Information

How and when to share assessment results with parents, students, and others involved in education.

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Parent's Right to Information

Parents have the right to access their children's records, including assessment data, to stay informed.

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Assessment Frequency

How often assessment data is shared with parents. It should happen regularly, usually twice a year.

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Assessment Prioritization

Teachers use the curriculum to decide which areas of knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and dispositions are most important for students to develop and assess.

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Triangulation of Assessment Material

Using multiple sources of information, such as observations, assignments, and tests, to get a more comprehensive understanding of student learning.

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Formal Assessment

Pre-planned assessment methods, such as tests and quizzes, that follow a structured format.

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Informal Assessment

Spontaneous observations and interactions used to gather information about student learning.

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Standardized Tests

Nationally or internationally developed assessments that are administered and scored in a consistent manner.

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Education Act (1998) Assessment Requirements

This act requires schools to regularly assess students, report results to students and parents, identify and support students' needs, and develop a school plan including an assessment policy.

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Data Protection Act (2003, 2018) Assessment Impact

The act ensures that parents or students over 18 have the right to access their personal data, including assessment records.

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Equitable Assessment

Assessment practices that are fair and provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of individual differences.

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NCCA Guidelines for Assessment

A set of guidelines developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in Ireland, outlining principles and practices of effective assessment in primary schools.

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Assessment Literacy

The ability of teachers and students to understand and critically evaluate assessment methods, interpret the results, and use them effectively for learning.

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Equal Status Act (2000)

This law prohibits discrimination against students based on factors like their language background or special needs. It ensures that assessments don't unfairly disadvantage certain students.

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Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004)

This law focuses on inclusivity in education. Students with special needs should be included in mainstream settings where possible. Schools must create individualized education plans (IEPs) for these students.

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Why assess children's learning?

Assessment is a critical part of good teaching and learning. It helps teachers understand student progress, identify areas that need improvement, and adjust their teaching strategies to address individual needs.

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What should be assessed?

A school's assessment policy should cover all curriculum areas and subjects. The methods used should be appropriate for each specific subject area.

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When should assessment happen?

Assessment should be an ongoing process, happening regularly throughout the learning process. It allows teachers to monitor student progress and adjust their teaching as needed.

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How should assessment be done?

Schools should use a variety of methods for assessing student learning, such as tests, projects, observations, and student self-assessments.

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Where to record assessment information?

A school's assessment policy should outline where to record student assessment data. This could be in a student's portfolio, a digital system, or a teacher's grade book.

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Who should assessment information be shared with?

A school's assessment policy should specify who has access to student assessment information. This could include teachers, parents, and specialists.

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Study Notes

EDU304 & EPS300 Week 1 Lecture B

  • Course title: EDU304 & EPS300
  • Lecture topic: Assessment Policy & Context
  • Lecturer: Dr. Suzanne Parkinson
  • Qualifications: B.Ed., B.Sc., M.Sc. in Developmental & Educational Psychology, Ed.D., Ed. Psych.

Overview

  • What is Assessment?
  • Purposes of Assessment
  • Methods of Classroom Assessment
  • National Legislation on Assessment
  • School Policy on Assessment

What is the Purpose of Assessment?

  • Complete a worksheet titled "What does Assessment mean to you?"
  • Define assessment
  • Reflect on past assessment experiences
  • Consider how you assess students
  • Reflect on any dissatisfaction or discomfort with assessment results
  • Note changes in primary school assessment methods

Our Conceptions of Assessment

  • MICRA-T (Primary School Reading Test) has been used for over 3 decades
  • Provides accurate reading performance information for Irish primary school pupils
  • Various assessments covering different areas like Mathematics, Social, Environmental and Scientific Education, Arts, and Physical Education
  • Provisional Leaving Certificate results are also included (showing subjects like Irish, English, Mathematics)

What is Assessment?

  • Assessment involves collecting and reporting information on a child's progress in various areas.

  • Assessment is an integral part of learning and teaching

  • Provides information for various stakeholders, especially children

  • It is a continuous process that involves children, teachers, parents, and others

  • Information enhances teaching and supports children's learning in all curriculum areas (NCCA, 2022, p. 6)

What is the Purpose of Assessment?

  • Builds a picture of a child's progress and achievement in the Primary School Curriculum over time.
  • Provides information on how the child learns (learning process)
  • Provides information on what the child learns (products of learning)
  • Used by teachers to identify and celebrate current learning and provide support for future learning, both short and long term (NCCA, 2007, p. 7)

Inside the Black Box

  • Current classroom policies treat the classroom as a black box (certain inputs from outside are fed in, and outputs hopefully follow)
  • It is important to understand what happens inside, to potentially improve outputs
  • Teaching and learning are interactive
  • Teachers need to understand their pupils' progress and difficulties, adapting their work to meet their needs

Purposes of Assessment: Formative

  • Formative Assessment for Learning (AfL) is done on an ongoing basis and informs teaching
  • Assessment takes place during instructional time, and information gained helps students learn (Murchan & Sheil, 2017, p. 5)
  • Questions should be asked: Where are children now in their learning?, Where are the children going in their learning?, How will the children get to the next point in their learning? (NCCA, 2007, p. 9)

Formative Assessment (AfL)

  • Teacher uses information to establish where students are in learning
  • Teacher identifies learning destination and plans a route.
  • Progress checks are made regularly
  • Teaching adjusted to conditions
  • Information is used as feedback to adapt teaching and learning (Murchan & Sheil, 2017)

Formative Assessment (AfL) - Process

  • Gathering: Part of classroom routine, learner involved
  • Recording: Amount of recording depends on purpose
  • Interpreting: Teachers' understanding guides interpretation.
  • Using: Daily basis to inform teaching, feedback for students
  • Reporting: Daily basis, sharing between teachers and students

Purposes of Assessment: Summative

  • Assessment of Learning (AoL): Focuses on medium and long-term assessment, focusing on what students have learned after teaching.
  • Students may receive grades or scores.
  • Information typically does not guide student learning.

Summative Assessment (AOL) - Examples

  • Example of teacher reflecting on students' long multiplication skills
  • It's important to consider any potential drawbacks to this assessment method.

Classroom Assessment Methods

  • Not all learning needs assessment
  • Prioritise what students need to learn focusing on knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and dispositions using the Primary School Curriculum.
  • Teacher decides what to assess, how to assess, and how the assessment information will be used.

Continuum of Assessment

  • Various assessment methods, ranging from child-led (like self-assessment, conferencing, and portfolios) to teacher-led (like questioning, observation, and standardized testing).
  • Child-led assessment methods are positioned at one end, while standardized testing is at the other.

Classroom Assessment Methods

  • Variety of assessment methods, both informal and formal.
  • Continuum of assessments.
  • Triangulation of assessment material (using multiple methods to validate findings).

Legislative Requirements for Assessment

  • Education Act (1998)
  • Data Protection Act (2003, 2018)
  • Equal Status Act (2000)
  • Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004)

Education Act (1998)

  • Principals and teachers regularly evaluate students and periodically report results to students and parents.
  • Schools ensure educational needs of all students are identified and met, including those with disabilities or special educational needs.
  • Schools must create an assessment policy as a requirement.
  • Assessment data must be recorded appropriately (e.g., Pupil File, Report Card).

Data Protection Act (2003, 2018)

  • Parents of students under 18 (and students over 18) have the right to access personal data.
  • Schools must store information safely to enable access by former students up to their 21st birthday.
  • GDPR regulations for primary schools must be considered.

Equal Status Act (2000)

  • Prohibits discrimination in assessment.
  • Assessment methods should not discriminate against students (e.g., EAL, SEN students).

Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004)

  • Further provision for the education of people with special educational needs.
  • Aim for inclusive environments for students with special educational needs.
  • Following assessment, the school must create an "education plan" for the child (IEP).

School Policy on Assessment

  • Questions to be answered in a school assessment policy:
  • Why assess student learning?
  • What should be assessed?
  • When should assessment happen?
  • How should learning be assessed?
  • Where should assessment be recorded?
  • With whom should assessment information be shared?
  • How should assessment information be shared with others? (NCCA, 2007)

School Policy on Assessment (Question 1 - Why Assess?)

  • Part of good teaching and learning
  • Gives teachers valuable information
  • Identifying next steps in student learning and teaching strategies.

School Policy on Assessment (Question 2 - What to Assess?)

  • Curriculum areas/subjects should be addressed
  • Appropriate methods for each curriculum area should be applied

School Policy on Assessment (Question 3 - When Assessment Happens?)

  • Ongoing process
  • Diagnostic assessment, to guarantee needs of all children are met
  • Early years screening in literacy, numeracy, and developmental skills
  • Standardized assessments in 2nd, 4th, and 6th class

School Policy on Assessment (Question 4 - How Assessment Happens?)

  • Variety of assessment methods gathered over time
  • Appropriate methods for curricular areas

School Policy on Assessment (Question 5 - Where Recorded?)

  • Teacher's daily records
  • Pupil File
  • Report Card (GOI, 1998)

School Policy on Assessment (Question 6 - With Whom Shared?)

  • Data Protection Act (2003) gives parents the right of access to information and personal data relating to their student
  • Parents should be provided with regular information and reports(NCCA,2007)

School Policy on Assessment (Question 7 - How Shared?)

  • Information must be accessible
  • Shared with parents twice a year (one of which should be a written report)
  • Information kept until the student's 21st birthday (NCCA, 2007)

Considerations

  • Purpose of assessment
  • Teacher knowledge and ability in student assessment
  • How assessment informs educational practice

Next Steps

  • Enroll in Moodle.
  • Review Course Documentation
  • Self-study NCCA Guidelines for Assessment (2007)
  • Self-assess with the "Purposes of Assessment" quiz.
  • Review three short videos on Assessment

Bibliography

  • Include various research articles and documents, but avoid repetition.

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Assessment Week 1 B PDF

Description

Explore the fundamentals of assessment in education through this quiz based on the first week of the EDU304 & EPS300 course. Discover the purposes, methods, and legislation surrounding classroom assessments. Reflect on your own assessment practices and the evolution of assessment methods over time.

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