A New Vision of Excellence in Assessment

Summary

Rick's Diggins explores the pivotal role of assessment in American education, emphasizing its potential to foster students' dreams. He argues that effective, instructionally relevant assessment systems must align with evolving school missions, focusing on narrowing achievement gaps and promoting lifelong learning. Diggins advocates for a balanced approach, integrating local assessment with interim benchmarks and high-quality classroom practices to enhance student learning. He also highlights the importance of involving students in the assessment process to encourage a productive emotional response, ultimately cultivating a culture of confidence and continuous improvement.

Takeaways

• 📚 Assessment can help students realize their dreams if certain conditions are met, emphasizing the importance of aligning assessment with the school's mission.
• 🏫 The role of assessment in American education is evolving, with a new focus on producing lifelong learners and reducing achievement gaps.
• 🔍 There is a need for a new vision of excellence in assessment, which includes balancing different types of assessments to meet various information needs.
• 📉 The traditional mission of schools was to weed out the unwilling or unable and rank students by achievement, but this approach is shifting towards inclusivity and proficiency for all.
• 🌟 The societal expectation is now for schools to deliver lifelong learners capable of adapting to a rapidly evolving society, which is a significant change from past missions.
• 📝 The importance of classroom-level assessment cannot be overstated, as it is foundational for a balanced assessment system and directly impacts student learning.
• 🔑 High-quality assessments are crucial for gathering dependable information about student achievement, which in turn informs better instructional decisions.
• 🔄 A balanced assessment system should include annual standardized tests, interim benchmark assessments, and high-quality classroom assessments.
• 🤝 Student involvement in the assessment process is essential for promoting a sense of control over their academic well-being and enhancing learning.
• 💡 The emotional response of students to assessment results is critical, as it influences their motivation and subsequent learning behaviors.
• 🛠️ The principles of assessment for learning can create a culture of confidence, helping students understand their learning goals, progress, and how to achieve mastery.

Q & A

What is the central question addressed in the script?

The central question addressed in the script is whether assessment can help students realize their dreams.

What are the essential conditions for assessment to help students realize their dreams?

The essential conditions include aligning assessment processes with the school's mission, balancing local assessment systems, and focusing on the local classroom and district level.

How has the mission of schools in America evolved?

The mission of schools in America has evolved to serve new purposes, focusing on narrowing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, and preparing all students for college and workplace training.

What is the new vision of excellence and assessment in American education?

The new vision of excellence and assessment involves balancing assessment systems at the local level to meet the information needs of all assessment users, using quality assessments to deliver dependable information about student achievement, and involving students in the assessment process.

Why is it important to balance assessment systems?

Balancing assessment systems is important to meet the information needs of all users, support student learning, and ensure that assessments are used effectively for both formative and summative purposes.

What is the role of classroom assessment in a balanced system?

Classroom assessment is the foundation of a balanced system. It enhances student learning by providing critical, data-based instructional decision making at the classroom level.

What are the keys to assessment quality according to the script?

The keys to assessment quality include having a clear purpose, effective assessment design, clear targets, effective communication, and involving students in the assessment process.

How can assessment be used to promote productive emotional dynamics within learners?

Assessment can promote productive emotional dynamics by helping students understand their achievement status, encouraging them to make productive decisions about their learning, and fostering a sense of control over their academic well-being.

What is the significance of involving students in the assessment process?

Involving students in the assessment process is significant as it allows them to become active participants in their learning, understand their progress, and make informed decisions about their academic growth.

How can assessment be used to help students make productive decisions about their learning?

Assessment can help students make productive decisions by providing clear learning targets, regular feedback, and opportunities for self-reflection, enabling them to understand where they are going, where they are now, and how to close the gap.