Education Assessment Principles and Trends

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Questions and Answers

What is the main difference between essay and objective questions?

Objective questions are more authentic.

Essay questions require more writing. (correct)

Objective questions are more subjective.

Essay questions are easier to mark.

What is a limitation of essay questions?

They can be biased. (correct)

They are easy to mark.

They require no preparation.

They are only used for formative assessment.

What is authentic assessment?

A method of marking objective questions.

A type of formative assessment.

A type of essay question.

A way to assess students in a real-life context. (correct)

What is a characteristic of authentic assessments?

They reflect real-life situations. Signup and view all the answers

Why are verbs important in constructing essay questions?

They help to clarify the task for students. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about essay questions?

They test lower-level thinking skills. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of classroom testing?

To evaluate student learning and understanding Signup and view all the answers

What type of learning outcomes deals with the acquisition of knowledge and skills?

Cognitive learning outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests?

The way results are interpreted Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of test specifications in planning a classroom test?

To clarify the learning objectives Signup and view all the answers

What type of assessment focuses on evaluating student learning at the end of a lesson or course?

Summative assessment Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of affective learning outcomes?

Attitude and value development Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of rubrics or marking schemes in classroom testing?

To provide clear criteria for scoring Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of an objective test?

It has clear and specific criteria for scoring Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of evaluation in education?

To compare learners' performance against a specific standard Signup and view all the answers

Why do professionals such as physicians, lawyers, and engineers take tests?

To demonstrate their competence in specific areas and in some cases to be licensed to practise their profession or trade Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of assessment in education, according to Harlen (1978) and Deale (1975)?

To identify learners' strengths and weaknesses Signup and view all the answers

Why do educators assess learners, according to the given scenario?

To determine whether learners can apply what has been taught Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of school administrators in testing?

To rate the performance of individual teachers Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the phrase 'understand' in the given scenario?

Ability to apply what has been taught to solve problems Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a test, according to the joint committee of the APA, AERA, and NCME?

To elicit particular types of behaviour when presented under standardised conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of information in making educational decisions, according to Salvia and Ysseldyke (1995)?

Better decisions are usually based on more information Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of measuring and assigning numbers to a person's attributes in education?

Measurement Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of the teacher in the given scenario?

To apply Boyle's Law to solve a problem Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of teachers in testing?

To construct, administer and grade tests Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason why a single test format is not ideal for all circumstances?

Because different formats have different strengths and weaknesses Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the teacher's conclusion in the given scenario?

The teacher's conclusion is based on a comparison with a standard Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of the assessment process in education, according to the given content?

To identify learners' strengths and weaknesses Signup and view all the answers

What is common among tests, measurements, and evaluations?

They are all used to assign numbers to a phenomenon Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between measurement, evaluation, and assessment?

Measurement is the process of assigning numbers, while evaluation and assessment are used to make judgments Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of norm-referenced tests?

To highlight achievement differences between and among students Signup and view all the answers

What is the norm in norm-referenced tests?

The scores of a representative group of students Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of norm-referenced tests?

They tend to focus on assessing low-level, basic skills Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of criterion-referenced tests?

To determine what students can or cannot do Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests?

The purpose or aim of assessing students Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of a student's score being in the 80th percentile on a norm-referenced test?

The student has performed as well or better than 20% of students in the norm group Signup and view all the answers

What does a student's score on a norm-referenced test indicate?

How the student compares to others Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of norm-referenced tests?

They give little information about what the student actually knows or can do Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Topic 1: Roles of Assessment in Teaching and Learning

Assessments are essential in education as they help teachers make informed decisions about their students' learning.
Assessments can be used to identify students' strengths and weaknesses, and to inform instruction and improve student outcomes.

Why Do We Assess?

Assessment is performed to gain an understanding of an individual's strengths and weaknesses in order to make appropriate educational decisions.
The best educational decisions are based on information, and better decisions are usually based on more information.

Types of Assessments

Formative vs Summative Assessments

Formative assessments are used to monitor student progress and adjust instruction.
Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning at the end of a lesson or unit.

Norm-referenced vs Criterion-referenced Tests

Norm-referenced tests are designed to classify students and highlight achievement differences between and among students.
Criterion-referenced tests determine what students can or cannot do and focus on assessing specific skills or knowledge.
Norm-referenced tests compare students to a norm group, while criterion-referenced tests compare students to a standard or criterion.

Planning the Classroom Test

The purpose of classroom testing is to assess student learning and to inform instruction.
Teachers should specify the learning objectives, develop test specifications, select item types, prepare rubrics or marking schemes, and prepare test items.

Constructing Objective Test Items

Objective tests are used to assess student knowledge and skills in a fair and unbiased manner.
Teachers should consider the purpose of the test, the learning objectives, and the type of item format when constructing objective test items.

Authentic Assessments

Authentic assessments are used to evaluate student learning in real-world contexts.
Authentic assessments can be used to assess complex skills and knowledge, and to provide a more comprehensive picture of student learning.

What to Assess

Teachers should assess cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning outcomes.
Cognitive learning outcomes include knowledge, comprehension, and application.
Affective learning outcomes include attitudes, values, and interests.
Psychomotor learning outcomes include skills and abilities.

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Description

This quiz covers the general principles of assessment, types of assessments, and current trends in assessment. It discusses formative vs summative assessments and norm-referenced vs criterion-referenced tests.