Assessment is any method used to judge or evaluate an outcome or
help make a decision. Teachers are reflective practitioners as they use assessment in order to plan, monitor, and improve
their teaching. There are numerous types of ways to assess the level of students authentically. Authentic assessments
most closely measure what happens during instruction and inform instruction are more genuine and justifiable.
The most frequent type of assessment used during EDUC 140 is through assembling artifacts.
Artifacts are the products that result from an investigation: writing samples, journals, physical or computer models, drawings,
videos, or multimedia documents. Below are a list and description of types of assessment used during EDUC 140.
Lunar Flip Book
The class was expected to create a lunar flip book which illustrated the the postition of the moon
in relation to the Earth and Sun, as well as phase of moon for each day of a lunar month. The lunar flip book was a
physical product that required the students to understand content knowledge in order for the product to be constructed.
Moon Journal
The students had to create a moon journal in which we described the location of the moon, as
well as the phase the moon on each particular night the moon was observed. Journal writing is a valuable form of assessment
as it enhances communication between student and teacher as a journal allows students to share information that they normally
could not share individually in a classroom setting.
Powerpoint Presentations
Not only were the construction of powerpoint presentations effective ways of using technology to
communicate with students, but the creation of powerpoint presentations were multi-media artifacts that could be used for
assessment. These powerpoint presentations allowed students to display information in a variety of ways
as powerpoint enables numerous types of media to be presented. Powerpoint presentations are physical models
that students must present their knowledge in ways that are compatible with their learning styles.
Critical Task
Students created a written form of assessment as they wre expected to write a critical
task, or rather a paper presenting a plan to teach a certain topic. Writing activities, such as this critical task
is a valuable form of assessment as writing is a valuable measurement of student understanding, as students
must interpret, and explain information in their own words.
Science Safety and Classroom Management Plan
Another written assessment during the course was the creation of a classroom safety plan. Students
were expected to create a "safety plan" for a classroom, including a general layout of a classroom.
Benchmark Lessons
Students had to design benchmark lessons throughout the course of the semester. These benchmark
lessons were another form of written assessment as students were assessed in their ability to research standards, understand
the level of students, understand the skills necessary for students to complete a specific activity, and teach these skills
in a lesson. Two lesson plans created during EDUC 140 can be viewed by clicking on the links titled "benchmark
lesson" at the bottom of the page.
