Teaching Resources :
Assessment

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Other Pages Related to Assessment : Assessment & Reporting Examinations, Tests & Reports

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Resources for Assessment

• Note : Individual resources are suitable for teacher use with all education levels unless specifically indicated otherwise.

1. Alternative Assessment :
• Alternative Assessment Encyclopedia
  While almost a decade old, there is still quality material listed. Other articles and areas also listed.
• Alternative Assessment Primer
  Article with links to other sites.
2. Assessment for Learning Project, The
   Extensive article from Curriculum Leadership. It is based on the concept of using ‘the information derived from assessment practices employed in the classroom to improve the quality of student learning.’
3. Australian Sites :
• Assessment and Reporting
  [The Essington School Darwin Online Resources]
  Has a compilation of briefly annotated links covering assessment reporting, report comments, rubrics, assessing group work and more.
• Education Assessment and Reporting Links
  [Compiled by Psych.info]
  Includes associations, laboratories, rubrics, articles, portfolio assessment, consistency and more.
• SMaRT - ImagineThis
  ‘Smart Management, Assessment and Reporting Tool’, now used in a range of schools in Victoria. ‘SMaRT has been developed by ImagineThis Computer Solutions in conjunction with a taskforce of Primary and Secondary school teachers’. Two components - Teacher and Administration allow for complete record keeping and reporting.
4. Assessment Links
   A range of well-annotated links to assessment resources and ideas.
5. Best Practices …
   [Preparing for Standardised Tests]
   ‘Build students’ confidence as you help them master effective test-taking strategies. With these professional tips, sample questions, and lessons, you can more effectively integrate test review exercises into your regular teaching plan.’ Selected articles collated by Scholastics and covering a wide range of these aspects.
6. ClassRoom Portals
   Free software used to record student information and results. You can buy a ‘pro’ version, but the Freeware version is very good. It provides statistical help, graphical presentations, allows comments, even allows for rounding marks.
7. Individual Education Programs [IEPs]
   While dominantly used in the Special Education area, there is no reason why they could not be used in the regular classroom.
• Checklist for Effective IEPs
  US oriented and a little dated, but still contains a variety of good suggestions for inclusions.
• Creating IEPs
  A somewhat legal approach but there is some good advice included and what to do and, more importantly, what not to do that would apply anywhere.
• Developing Standards-Based IEPs
  Done by the US Department of Education, it provides a series of lessons to help develop effective IEPs.
• Developing the Individual Education Plan [IEP]
  Good coverage from the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services. There are also links to an information gathering, paperwork, flowchart and a Step-by-Step Guide among other aspects. There are also embedded links to other types of planning.
• Education Support Package
  [Individual Education Plans]
  From the Western Australia Department of Education comes this professional development package.
  Excellent presentation.
• IEPPro
  ‘Available to both Mac and Windows PC users, IEPPro automates and streamlines preparing, writing and publishing IEP documents for a teacher.’
• IEPs [1]
  Part of a larger site on Learning Difficulties. This provides articles, recommended books, further links, Question & Answers, a forum, resources and more. US Based.
• IEPs [2]
  Part of a medical oriented site [US] which steps through referral, development of a plan and more.
• Individual Education Plans for Students with Disabilities
  From Queensland Education. This is the introductory section with a link to the Stages of the Process page which covers all the details.
• Individualized Education Program
  Even Wikipedia has information. Covers all relevant aspects of such a program.
• Parents, Advice for
  Goes through a number of steps to consider before going to an IEP planning meeting. Connected to the following link and, while US based, has a lot of common sense designed to make the meeting as productive as possible.
• Parents’ IEP Report
  While American based, the information is sound in helping parents decide what they want from the IEP meeting, and what follows on in the development of the plan itself. There is a lot of common sense here. You can use the report they provide if you wish.
• Writing the IEP
  Done by the US Department of Education. Contains good, sound, sensible concepts to incorporate into the process.
8. Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Assessment and Rubrics
   Looks specifically at rubrics, electronic portfolios and reporting including a selection of comments.
9. Online Resources for Assessment
   Compilation of US sites that looks at aspects of assessment. Access to other areas. Check left hand column.
10. Report Card Comments :
While there are a range of links to comments provided, teachers are warned that these should only be used as guides and that other factors should be taken into consideration - the child, the setting, the subject, special factors, systemic restraints, etc..

In addition, we repeat what was always a mantra while we were actively engaged in education - don’t use meaningless comments, e.g. ‘Child X was a pleasure to teach this semester.’ What does this mean ? They were excellent in their studies, they were really quiet and didn’t annoy me, they always smiled and did what they were told, …’.

Comments should always be specific, directed at the topic involved, reflect the child’s achievement or lack thereof, and be meaningful for all parties involved - teachers, parents, students.

Wherever possible it should be positive, with recommendations or suggestions for the future. It should always have evidence to back up any assertion which is being made and be capable of being effectively addressed in any interview situation.

Finally, remember, most of these comment banks are not Australian based and therefore have a further cultural difference.
• Comment Ideas for Report Cards
  A collection of nearly 300 starters for end of year comments.
• General Comments
  Nearly 300 general comments as well as listings for specific areas including Effort. US based.
• Primary/Elementary Comments
  [Up to Year 6 in the UK]
  Contains lists both general and specific, grade oriented and subject oriented. There is also a link to a similar presentation for Secondary Comments.
• Religious Education Comments
• Report Card Comments
  ‘Sample generic report card comments are given below. Remember, it is more helpful and informative for parents if you can provide specific rather than general comments whenever possible’ Words and phrases are provided in general and subject oriented groupings.
• Report Card Comments …
  [Teachers would love to Use !]
  A short collection of “humorous truths [?] ” about students, that we wouldn’t be game to use.
• Report Card Comments and Phrases
  ‘Have you ever been stumped by what to say while writing report card comments, or are you tired of writing the same things over and over? These suggested comments and phrases can be used as is, or adapted for any grade and subject.’ Multiple sections.
• Report Card Comments Collection
  ‘[Grade 6 Language], scanned From The Ontario Provincial Report Card.’ Comments long and short.
• Report Timesaver
  ‘Designed to allow you to write your own report comments, but these Comment Banks could give you a head start when you do so. You can add your own comments to them, combine them together, or import comments into them from other comment bank formats.’ Fee-based.
  Secondary
• Student Report Card Comments
  Brief article with two listings for Elementary [Primary] and Secondary.
• Teacher Comments on Report Cards
  ‘This [ERIC] digest explains why teacher comments on report cards are important, offers suggestions on how to construct effective comments, points out words or phrases to be cautious about using, and indicate sources of information for report card comments.’ The link is for the .pdf download.
11. Rubrics :
• Building a Rubric
  ‘In this activity, you will build a customisable rubric that can be used for any writing activity your class might be completing. Follow the steps to complete the rubric.’ The process would then apply to any other rubric as well.
• Evaluation Rubrics for Websites
  Help your students begin to critically evaluate the content, design, and credibility of the websites that they visit. Follow these links to find rubrics that either primary, intermediate, or secondary students can use to evaluate websites. Other evaluation rubrics can be found at this site, and also this school site.
• Rubistar
  ‘RubiStar is a Free tool to help teachers create quality rubrics. Choose a Topic [ ] to create a new rubric based on a template.’ Use the tutorial, create your opwn, or select from an existing collection using a variety of options.
• Rubric Generators
  Generators that create rubrics [guides for development and assessment] in different situations. Choose the area and go from there.
• Rubrics
  A listing of well annotated links from EdNA, with more than 40 included. They cover software [Rubistar], recommended rubrics, rubrics for assessing websites and more.
• Rubric Sites
  A listing which is quite extensive both for general information as well as rubrics for specific areas.
• Secondary Assessment Tools
  Rubrics for both product and process aspects, specific reading and writing assessments and assessment in ESL classrooms.
  Secondary
12. Science Portfolios
    How to use portfolios as the basis of assessment in science. Look at collecting practical activity records and other assessments in what should be an interactive way of learning.
    Primary, Secondary
13. Teaching Tools
    Tools listed by the Discovery Channel. Software programs such as ‘Puzzle Maker’, ‘Worksheet Generator’, ‘Quiz Centre’, etc..
14. Technology and Assessment
    Alternative assessments and electronic portfolios. Links, references, online publications, conference presentations, workshops and more.
15. Toolkit98
    ‘Designed to assist classroom teachers to become better assessors of student learning. The primary users of Toolkit98 are intended to be those who have the responsibility to coordinate and facilitate professional development in assessment for teachers.’ Includes chapters, training activities and samples as well as an appendix. Most material is available from this site.