Developing Assessment Literacy

in MichiganKathy Dewsbury-White

Edward RoeberMichigan Assessment Consortium

Overview of this SessionWhat is “assessment literacy?”Who needs to be “assessment literate?”Why is it needed?How are the Assessment Literacy Standards being

developed?What do the Standards look like?What difference would the Standards make for Michigan

education?If this vision is desired, how can we push this vision

forward?

What is “assessment literacy?”

An assessment literate individual is one who understands how student assessment can enable them to better carry out their role in education, believes that assessment can improve teaching and learning, and puts into place activities and behaviors to act on these beliefs

Who Needs to be “Assessment Literate?

Everyone with a stake in education needs to be assessment literate

This includes:Students and their parents/guardiansTeachersBuilding administratorsSpecialists at the district and building levelsCentral office administratorsPolicymakers at the local, state, and national

levelsPublic

Why is Assessment Literacy Needed?

Assessment literacy is needed for several reasons:o Increased volume of student assessmento Changes in types of assessmentso Higher assessment stakes for students and educatorso Continued lack of pre-service preparation for educatorso Lack of understanding about assessment by those who

adopt policy and laws, and govern our schools

Why is Assessment Literacy Needed?

Research has shown that students who more involved in their own learning – and assessment – achieve more

Effective use of formative assessment – such as FAME in Michigan – requires teachers to understand how on-going instructionally-embedded assessment will help all student achieve at higher levels

Administrator involvement in school improvement activity is also related to higher student achievement – are they assessment-literate?

Michigan Assessment ConsortiumThe MAC is a non-profit organization designed to

promote greater understanding about and use of assessment in Michigan.

The goal of the MAC is to help educators use assessment to improve teaching and learning.

Michigan Assessment ConsortiumIt has prepared a number of assessment-related

resourceso Videoconferences on various topics (which are archived)o Papers on various assessment topicso Common Assessment Development Module Series

o Now working on arts education instructional and assessment resources

These can be accessed at:

www.michiganassessmentconsortium.org

Standards DevelopmentThe MAC is now developing assessment literacy

standards

These standards describe the dispositions, knowledge, and the skills needed by all parties regarding student assessment

The goal is to provide a common basis for work to help all become more assessment literate

Assessment Literacy Standards

These standards are being developed for:o Teacherso Building administratorso District administratorso Local and state policymakerso Students

Assessment Literacy Standards

The work started with input from the entire MAC BoardThen, the MAC Knowledge and Practices Committee

created a first draftA review of related literature and standards was

conductedThe first draft was reviewed internallyThen, a critical friend reviewed the documentA second draft was produced

Assessment Literacy Standards

After internal review and revision, several external reviewers were asked to comment on the standards. These included:Susan BrookhartCarol CommodoreMargaret HeritageKen O’Connor Jim PophamRick StigginsMASSP, MEMSPA and MASCD

Reviewers’ ReactionsAdmired the MAC for undertaking such a

comprehensive set of assessment standards, especially for policymakers and for students

Concern about whether there are too many standards

Several thought they should “roll up” from teachers to building administrators to district administrators, so as to reduce redundancy

Reviewers’ ReactionsThe provision of disposition standards and

performance standards was supported – assessment literacy was viewed as more that knowledge about assessment

There were a number of specific comments on individual standards

Assessment Literacy Standards

The MAC’s Knowledge and Practices Committee reviewed each set of standards, standard by standard and the reactions of each standard

The Standards have been thoroughly reviewed and revised

The Standards have been presented at several conferences in state and out of state

The Standards have been made available to teacher preparation institutions such as MSU

Assessment Literacy Standards

The MAC has developed an external review packet, containing the following:o Created a standard overview presentation in order

to introduce the Standards more broadlyo Created an online survey to use to gain broader

field and organizational input and support for the Standards

o Reached out to educational and other organizations to seek their reactions to and their support of activities to strengthen assessment literacy

Time to ProcessTake a few minutes to look at the five sets of

standards – for teachers, building administrators, district administrators, policymakers and students

Consider your reactions to each set

Time to ProcessNow, think about two questions:

If educators had achieved these standards, what would be different in our students?

If this is a preferred future, what would need to be done to push this vision forward?

You may wish to turn and talk about this for a few minutes

Your Thoughts About the ALS

What is your vision for what these standards would do for today’s students if they were implemented?

What would need to be done to push this vision forward?

Your SuggestionsHow do you see the assessment literacy

standards being useful to you?What types of assessment literacy-building

activities do you feel would be useful?What other ideas and suggestions do you have?

Assessment LiteracyIn closing, the ultimate goal of this effort is to provide

these resources in ways that address the current state of assessment illiteracy

The stakes are too high not to do so

For Further InformationKathy Dewsbury-White

(517) 927-7640kdwhite@innovateandeducate.org

Edward Roeber(517) 614-4877eroeber@wisc.edu