Test Items Rationale

Rationale

      I tried to choose test items for the learning outcomes that focused on some the assessment tools that we had covered during week 3. I used one portfolio assessment, one performance assessment and one essay assessment. I also included a tradition paper assessment that I commonly use in my classroom.

      

      The bug folder assessment is a portfolio assessment and I tried to use the portfolio as a way of assessing what the students had learned from the week long unit on bugs. I think that a portfolio assignment is an excellent way for students to finish a unit and show what they have learned. In the text the authors describe portfolios as an ideal way to assess final mastery, effort, reflection, and growth in learning (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010).

      I used a worksheet to assess the students understanding of what worms need to live. I thought that this would be a good place for a quick assessment that showed student understanding and recall of a few specific pieces of information. This would be a follow up to a more time consuming project to create a worm compost bin. I think that paper assessments can be the right tool to quickly see where your students are with basic facts and skills

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      The paper plate spider is a performance assessment that assesses what students learned about a spider’s anatomy. I like that through observing how each student creates their spider I can directly measure what the student has learned about the anatomy of a spider. Performance tests are meaningful assessments because they directly measure learning rather than just looking at indicators of learning (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010).

      I struggled a bit with the essay assessment item. I had a hard time coming up with an essay item that would apply to a pre-k class. I ended up writing an essay item for a second or third grade class and then modifying it to meet the needs of a pre-k class that had limited reading and writing skills. I tried to be specific to the information that I wanted in the answer and the context that I wanted the students to explain it in. Essay questions are great for assessing more complex and elaborate ideas, but you have to be careful to write the question with enough detail or you may not get an accurate assessment (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2010).

Kubiszyn, T., & Borich, G. (2010). Educational Testing and Measurement, Classroom

Application and Practice. (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc.