do_assessments_pass

							   Do Alberta’s
Assessment Tools
 Pass the Test?
  ASBA General Meeting
       June 2012
        Current State

Provincial Achievement Tests - Grades 3, 6 and
9

Diploma Examinations - Grade 12

International involvement -TIMSS, PIRLS, PISA

National involvement - PCAP
Purposes Provincially

STANDARDS = Determine if students have
learned what is expected

ACCOUNTABILITY = Report to Alberta’s public

IMPROVEMENT = Provide data for reflection
and decision making
  Purposes Nat/Int’lly


Monitor the curriculum relative to other
jurisdictions

Triangulate provincial assessment results
    Issues with PATs
Stress

Ranking of schools by Fraser Institute

Scheduling (when is best?)

Definition of cohort impacts organizational
decisions (cycling)

Use of marks by teachers
Issues with Diplomas


Weighting

Scheduling

Written response in Math and Science
    Issues - Nat’l/Int’l

Same schools are used repeatedly

Interference with school days by testing only
some students

Paper handling hassles
            Sampling?


What’s it all about?

Impacts for governors?
              Quality?
Extensive teacher involvement - 7500 +

Directly linked to programs of study

Blueprinted

Equated

Reliable

Valid
        Tests provide
Public accountability for provincial government

Visible standards

Data for authority, school and teacher decision
making

Moderation of teacher awarded marks (diplomas
only)
     A Quick Look at
        Reports

Reports
Tests Do Not Provide

Diagnostic information

Easily accessible data for the next teacher to
receive the students

Data that can be used by the classroom teacher
beyond reflection
    For and With You
Explaining classroom and large scale
assessment

Facilitating conversations about trend data

Facilitating target setting

Providing support services to central
administrations
Thoughts and
 Questions