Assessment


Overview

The goal of the Assessment for Administration and Instruction module is to help you, as an educator, become proficient with Standard IV of the Maryland Teacher Technology Standards. This standard requires that teachers demonstrate an understanding of how to use technology to analyze problems and develop data-driven solutions for instructional and school improvement. Standard IV is based on the NETS for Teachers: National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers.

Goals

Throughout this module, we will engage in several interactive tasks to increase our understanding of how to use and analyze data to promote instructional and school improvement.

Our module goals include the following:

 

Learning Sections

This module is divided into nine sections. Within each section, you will complete a variety of activities. Activities include reading Web-based articles, watching video clips and presentations, investigating school reports, analyzing data, and evaluating school improvement plans. You are responsible for completing all module activities. Refer to the grading guidelines listed below for a list of all graded assignments and their respective point values.

 

Expectations

You are expected to complete all module activities; participate fully in discussion forum conversations; respond in your journal and complete a final independent project. The guidelines below outline module expectations.

Discussion Forum Participation

Participants are expected to contribute at least three postings (one original and two responses) for each discussion forum. Responses will be evaluated based on demonstration of knowledge of course content and connections made among concepts in course and professional practice.

Discussion Forums include the following:

  • Section 1: Introduction Discussion Forum
  • Section 2: Analyzing Assessments Discussion Forum
  • Section 4: Data-Driven Dialogue Discussion Forum
  • Section 5: Maryland Report Card Discussion Forum
  • Section 6: School Improvement in Maryland Discussion Forum (Note: This forum is required but not graded.)

Please refer to the rubric linked below to review forum grading guidelines.

» Discussion Forum Rubric

Journal Reflections

Participants are expected to respond thoughtfully to journal entry prompts as posting in the following learning sections:

  • Section 3: Journal Reflection 1—Data-Driven Dialogue Application
  • Section 7: Journal Reflection 2—Data-Driven Dialogue and Team Meetings
  • Section 8: Journal Reflection 3—School Improvement Planning

Guidelines for the journal entries are available as a resource for facilitators and participants

» Journal Reflection 1 Expectations: Data-Driven Dialogue Application
» Journal Reflection 2 Expectations: Data-Driven Dialogue and Team Meetings
» Journal Reflection 3 Expectations: School Improvement Planning

School Improvement in Maryland Group Project

For this project, students will work in small groups to review and analyze content on the MDk12.org website. This project has both an individual and a group component: Each group will be assigned a section of the MDk12.org website, and each individual within the group will complete an analysis of the sub-section within the assigned section.

Complete directions for the assignment can be found in Section 6, Activity 2. The course facilitator will announce the groups.

Please refer to the rubric linked below to review grading guidelines for this assignment

» School Improvement in Maryland Group Project Rubric

Culminating Project

You are expected to complete a final project that demonstrates your learning about assessment and analyzing data in order to improve classroom instruction and school performance.

In the culminating assignment, you will summarize what you have learned in class, reflect upon your own experiences with school improvement planning and describe how you plan to use the content you have learned in this course to meet the goals of your school improvement plan.

Please review the rubric below for project guidelines and grading criteria.

» Culminating Assignment: Summary and Reflection Rubric

 

Grading

Grades are based on active and reflective participation, completion of activities and quality of work. See rubrics for specific guidelines for each assignment. At the successful completion of all course activities, participants who earn an 80% or above will receive a "pass" designation. Participants who learn less than 80% will receive a "fail" designation. Grades will be apportioned as follows:

Course Components

Points Per Section

Total Points

Percentage/Weight

Discussion and Collaboration

4

16

25.00%

Journal Reflections

8

24

37.50%

Group Project

12

12

18.75%

Culminating Project

12

12

18.75%

 

Optional Resources

» 2011 Maryland Report Card

» School Improvement in Maryland

Freakonomics » What Should Be Done About Standardized Tests? A Freakanomics Quorum

Dare to Differentiate » Formative Assessment Strategies

» Digital Age Assessment

Public Schools of North Carolina » Examples of Formative Assessment in Practice

NMSA » Formative and Summative Assessments in the Classroom

HP » Microsoft Excel 2007: Filter Data

School Improvement in Maryland » Monitoring Student Progress

School Improvement in Maryland » Create Monitoring Template

Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center » Benchmark Assessment for Improved Learning

School Improvement in Maryland » Benchmark or Common Assessment Data

Common Craft » Wikis in Plain English

School Improvement in Maryland » Key Understandings for CFIP

Looking at Student Work » Protocols

National Science Education Leadership Association & North Carolina Science Leadership Association » Powerful Professional Learning in Science

National School Reform Faculty » Data Driven Dialogue

Hidenwood Elementary School »

School Improvement in Maryland » School Improvement Planning

School Improvement in Maryland » Create the Action Plan

Leading and Learning » Quotes to "Re-Imagine" Schools for the 21stC

Imperial County Office of Education » Inspirational Quotes

 

This online course is a product of the Maryland Technology Proficiency Project, a federal Title II-D Ed Tech partnership grant, in collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Public Television/Thinkport.

© 2012 MSDE. All Rights Reserved.