Chapter 7: Changing Views on Assessment for STEM Project-Based Learning

Questions and Answers

What is the main benefit of students co-developing rubrics for assessment?

It enables students to take ownership of the assessment process. (correct)

It allows students to bypass teacher involvement.

It eliminates the need for peer assessment.

It simplifies the assessment criteria for teachers.

How does self-assessment contribute to a student's learning process?

It encourages students to copy their peers.

It helps students identify their weaknesses and strengths. (correct)

It allows students to judge their peers' work.

It replaces the need for teacher assessment.

What is a key feature of effective rubrics in the assessment process?

They are fixed and do not allow for student input.

They include complex language that complicates understanding.

They provide clear criteria that students can align with their learning objectives. (correct)

They are based solely on instructor preferences.

Which of the following describes a benefit of peer assessment?

It offers information that can enhance individual learning. Signup and view all the answers

What role does self-regulation play in the assessment process?

It encourages students to actively engage and take responsibility for their learning. Signup and view all the answers

What role do contracts play in team collaboration?

They establish common goals and expectations between groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of assessment in a STEM PBL environment?

Designing, constructing, and synthesizing concepts. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates critical assessment criteria from tangential ones?

Critical criteria focus on authentic tasks while tangential ones do not. Signup and view all the answers

How does teacher behavior affect student learning?

Ineffective teaching can decrease student achievement significantly. Signup and view all the answers

Why is feedback essential for teachers in STEM education?

It encourages continuous improvements in teaching. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reflection Assessments

Reflection assessments include self-reflections and reflections on team collaboration, found in Appendices Q and R.
Contracts, both social and intellectual, can guide individual accountability and establish common goals between teachers and students.

Group Contracts

Contracts can specify group behaviors and are negotiated between group members or between a teacher and students.
Appendix O includes a completed contract example along with various editable contract types to suit classroom needs.

Importance of Individualized Assessment

Assessments should align with state-level tasks to prepare students for high-stakes testing.
Educational innovations must show measurable impact on high-stakes assessments to be successful.

Authentic vs. High-Stakes Assessment

Striking a balance between authentic assessments (focused on skills like designing and synthesizing) and high-stakes assessments is crucial for individual accountability.

Rubrics in Assessment

The book includes various rubrics designed to enhance assessment, addressing questions related to future application and understanding of material.
Effective rubrics help in reflecting student accountability through thoughtful design and application.

Self-Regulation

Explicit assessments enhance student self-regulation, with two levels of involvement.
The first level involves students co-developing rubrics, promoting ownership and clarity in evaluation standards.

Peer and Self-Assessment

The second level occurs through peer- and self-assessment using developed rubrics, leading to recognition of strengths and weaknesses.
This process encourages responsibility for learning outcomes rather than compliance with teacher expectations.

Informational Feedback

Peer assessment and feedback can bolster student self-regulation by providing opportunities for improvement in a non-competitive environment.
Successful implementation of self-assessment may require teacher guidance and repeated practice.

Formative Assessment of Teachers

Teacher performance in STEM PBL should also be assessed formatively to improve education quality.
The Aggie STEM teacher assessment instrument is designed for criteria-specific feedback rather than summative evaluation.

Impact of Teacher Behavior

Teacher behavior and instructional approaches significantly affect student learning.
Research indicates ineffective teaching can lower student achievement, emphasizing the need for classroom observation to gauge professional development effectiveness.

Description

This quiz explores reflection assessments, including self-reflections and collaborative team reflections. It also delves into group contracts that define behaviors and accountability, as outlined in the provided appendices.