Instruction and Assessment
How are instruction and assessment related?
Plan for Instruction
Using the common core standards, the teacher should create measureable learning targets and outcomes. These goals should relate to the standards and use the language of the standards. Students should be aware of their learning targets during the entire unit. The teacher should deliver a preassessment to determine what areas of the standard students are weak and strong. All these steps are essential for planning the instruction.
Instruction
Instruction should be centered around the standards. Students' levels of knowledge should be met through differentiation. Students learning styles are also important to consider when instruction is taking place. Students should have frequent formative assessments to determine students understanding. Based on the results of those formative assessments, instruction should be modified or changed to meet the changing needs of the students.
Assessment Types
Formative
Formative assessments provide ongoing feedback to the teacher and students. Formative assessments may include: ticket out the door, summaries, concepts maps and other graphic organizers.
Summative
This is a culminating assessment that measures students knowledge of the whole unit. This should come at the end. Summative assessments include benchmark tests, final projects, and Georgia Milestones.
Reflection
At the end of every unit, students should reflect on how well they met the learning targets. Teachers should also reflect on how well the students perform based on the instruction given. How can the instruction be improved and what students would be in need of remediation.
"It is time to focus on assessment FOR learning instead of assessment OF learning."--Rick Stiggins
Bibliography
Billmeyer, R. (2002). Capturing All of the Reader Through the Reading Assessment System.