Psychology assessment 3

1. Formative Assessments: This could be a simple homework worksheet. The students realizes what they do and don't know about the subject of the homework as they complete it, and the teacher is also able to see how well the student is comprehending the information. Based on the results of the homework the teacher can better understand how to format his/her teaching to better help the students.

Summative Assessments: This could be a final paper about the subjects discussed throughout a unit. The teacher can see what the student has ultimately learned from the unit. It can also be an indicator as to the effectiveness of the instruction. The depth of the student's knowledge about the subjects in the paper could imply how well the information was presented. The paper could then be used to help assign a grade in the class.

A formative assessment could be used as a summative assessment later if the formative assessment was used to give a final grade for a report card.

2. Standardized achievement tests are used to find out the current knowledge of a student. They are not matched to any specific curriculum from national curriculum or state curriculum. The results are generally used to see the knowledge and skills of specific students and assess the strengths and follies of school districts. Standardized aptitude tests test the future abilities of students, this could be generally or in a specific area. The results of these tests are used to place students in specific classes, colleges, or programs. I would say that standardized achievement tests are closer to criterion-referenced tests. This is because the strengths and weaknesses of the individual is the desired information. I would say that standardized aptitude tests are closer to norm-referenced tests, because you compare the students scores to other student's scores in order to see where a students should be placed based on ability, or in order to gain entrance into a school.

3. I would still be very concerned if I was Alexandria. Regardless of the excuses some of the teachers gave to explain the falling test scores, I would not want to take risks. It is true that there could have been many factors that led to the dropping test scores, but it would be wise to take action now so that the scores do not continue to fall. As a principle I would want to ensure that everything was done to encourage better performance on the next test. This could be anything from better preparation of the students as far as test taking skills, or calling the district to find out if special accomodations could be made for the special needs students. I would also push the teachers to emphasize reading even more in their instruction. The important thing is that the students learn to read better, and action should be taken to ensure this regardless.

4. It is important to understand assessment as a teacher because it is such a large part of the school experience for students. Teachers need to be aware of the best ways to assess their students so they can better understand what the students' knowledge is as well as what they need to improve in their instruction. Teachers need to learn how to make their tests valid and reliable, and also need to know what assessments will best show what their students know. It is also important for them to have an understanding of standardized tests, and recognize what the results of those tests imply about their students. Parents should also be informed about the kinds of standardized tests. If they understand what the standardized tests actually imply about their children and what standard they are being compared to they can learn what areas their children may need special help in or what programs kids could excel in.