Chapter 4

Assessment and Evaluation

Looking AheadWhat role does assessment play in

the social studies curriculum?What tools are necessary and/or

available to teachers for assessing students?

What is authentic assessment and why is it consistent with the problems approach?

Can You?Explain why grades and test scores

are so emphasized in schools? Explain how teachers go about

determining grades? Explain authentic assessment?

Do You?Know why evaluation is always

comparative? Know how evaluation should be

different in the problems approach? Know the strengths and weaknesses

of objective and subjective tests?

Focus Activity What was your favorite social studies

assignment/project when you where a student? Why?

Discuss the details of assignment/project and compare with classmates.

Does your favorite social studies assignment/project share common attributes with others? If so, what attributes?

The Role of Assessment in Social StudiesWhat is assessment?How are grades related to

assessment?What are the different ways of

assessing?Normative PerformanceCriterion-Based

Principles of AssessmentWhy has the job of assessment become much more

complex in the 21st Century?What are six major goals to assessment?

Aim of assessment is to improve learningAssessment must be on-going and utilize a variety of toolsAll assessment is imperfect and flawedStudent needs to develop ownership of the goals of

assessmentAll assessment needs to be related to the goals of the

curriculumClassroom evaluation should be based on what you intend to

teach, what you actually teach, and what you intend for students to learn from that teaching.

Guidelines for AssessmentWhat are problems teachers face when

assessing students?Placing a numerical value to the assessmentsWeighing the various assessmentsEvaluating assessments in such a way as to

yield definitive and objective grades

Guidelines for AssessmentWhat are the ten broad principles for

assessment?1. Base assessments on teaching objectives2. Assess what we teach, not what we should

teach3. Focus assessment on what is important rather

than on what is easy to measure4. Ongoing assessment is preferable to endpoint5. Assessment of teaching should be based on

what students learn rather than on what they already know and can do

Guidelines for Assessment6. Provide a clear understanding of the purposes

and reasons for the assessment 7. Assessment should be fair and honest, not tricky 8. Assessment procedures should be built around

the notion of finding ways of improving instruction

9. Effective assessment gets the student involved in self-evaluation, taking responsibility for his or her own learning

10. A teacher should always remember that assessment is, at its very best, a subjective and risky affair

Authentic Assessment and PortfoliosWhat does the term “authentic”

describe?What is the role of the student in

this type of assessment?What are some hurdles with this

type of assessment?

Assessment Through TestsWhat are the pros and cons to utilizing

tests that utilize “objective measures”?What are the similarities and

differences between tests that utilize “objective measures” and “subjective measures”?

What considerations should a teacher have when deciding to use a test?

Assessing Projects and ReportsWhat are some inherent problems

with project and report assessments?What qualities are emphasized with

project and report assessments?How can teachers evaluate project

and report assessments?

Subjective AssessmentWhat role does the teacher play in

this type of assessment?What role does the student play in

this type of assessment?What are the pros and cons for this

type of assessment?

Peer Assessment and Self-AssessmentWhat role does the teacher play in

this type of assessment?What role does the student play in

this type of assessment?What are the pros and cons for this

type of assessment?

Checklist and Rubric AssessmentWhat role does the teacher play in

this type of assessment?What role does the student play in

this type of assessment?What are the pros and cons for this

type of assessment?

Analytical AssessmentWhat role does the teacher play in

this type of assessment?What role does the student play in

this type of assessment?What are the pros and cons for this

type of assessment?

Teacher Observations and Anecdotal RecordsWhat role does the teacher play in

this type of assessment?What role does the student play in

this type of assessment?What are the pros and cons for this

type of assessment?

Looking Back Assessment is important and complex and

should be measured against objectives. Teachers need to be constantly aware of the

need to focus on what is important, not just on what is easy to measure.

Authentic assessment advocates argue that tests and other traditional measures do not measure in a "real" way what a child is capable of doing.

Teachers could use portfolios, rubrics/check-lists, and many other tools to diversify their assessment

ExtensionYour principal, approaches you to talk as he has

received numerous complaints regarding your grading procedures from parents and students.

Unaware of your grading procedures he asks to see your assessment plan for the assignment receiving the complaints; however you do not have one.

He explains that all effective teachers have an assessment plan and he expects you to create assessment plans in the future.

You apologize and promise to complete an assessment for the next social studies lesson and get it to him by next week.

ExtensionSelect a social studies lesson topic

and create an assessment plan. The assessment plan should include

measurable learning objectives and multiple forms of assessments to measure those objectives.

Create assessments that align with the learning objectives.

Self-Test1. What does the term "basis of comparison"

mean in assessment? 2. Explain why both the method and the content

of assessment should be based on the teaching objectives.

3. What is meant by the term authentic assessment?

4. Identify the criticisms of both objective and subjective tests.

5. What are the traits of a good test? 6. What are the steps in building a test?

ResourcesNCSS. (1991). Position statement: testing and

evaluation of social studies students. Social Education, 55 (September), 284-285.

Internet 4 Classrooms- http://www.internet4classrooms.com/index.htm 157

Rubistar for Teachers- http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ Vinson, K. D., Ross, E. W., & Wilson, M. (2011).

Standards-based educational reform and social studies education: A critical introduction. In Russell, W. (Ed.), Contemporary Social Studies: An essential reader, (pp. 153-172). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.