Assessmentmethod

TARGET TO BE ASSESSED

ASSESSMENT METHOD

SELECTED RESPONSE ESSAY PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT PERSONAL COMMUNICATION
KNOWLEDGE MASTERY Multiple choice, true/false, matching, and fill-in can sample mastery of elements of knowledge Essay exercises can tap understanding of relationships among elements of knowledge Not a good choice for this target-three other options preferred Can ask questions, evaluate answers, and infer mastery, but a time-consuming option
REASONING PROFICIENCY Can assess application of some patterns of reasoning Written descriptions of complex problem solutions can provide a window into reasoning proficiency Can watch students solve some problems or examine some products and infer about reasoning proficiency Can ask student to "think aloud" or can ask follow-up questions to probe reasoning
SKILLS Can assess mastery of the knowledge prerequisites to skillful performance, but cannot rely on these to tap the skill itself Can assess mastery of the knowledge prerequisites to skillful performance, but cannot rely on these to tap the skill itself Can observe and evaluate skills as they are being performed Strong match when skill is oral communication proficiency; also can assess mastery of knowledge prerequisite to skillful performance
ABILITY TO CREATE PRODUCTS Can assess mastery of the knowledge prerequisite to the ability to create quality products, but cannot use these to assess quality of the products themselves Can assess mastery of the knowledge prerequisite to the ability to create quality products, but cannot use these to assess quality of the products themselves Can assess:
(1) proficiency in carrying out steps in product development, and
(2) attributes of the product itself		 Can probe procedural knowledge and knowledge of attributes of quality products, but not product quality
DISPOSITIONS Selected response questionnaire items can tap student feelings Open-ended questionnaire items can probe dispositions Can infer dispositions from behavior and products Can talk with students about their feelings

Adapted from Student-Centered Classroom Assessment, Richard J. Stggins, 1997