Place Based Education
Assessment
Personalized Learning
SMARTER Specs Suggest Complex Tests
SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) published its "content maps and specification" in English/language arts. They suggest complex tests that include adaptive assessment and demonstrations of learning.
Personalized Learning
Recapping a Dozen Don’t Miss Op-Eds
Here’s a baker’s dozen August Op-Eds you may have missed. Leadership 1. The Art of Balancing Execution & Innovation: principals and systems heads need to help their community of learners balance process improvement strategies with new approaches to learning. 2. Done Reforming; Focusing on Getting Smart: five things that…
Personalized Learning
Assessment as Portfolio of Personal Bests
In the most interesting comment of the day, Coleman said, “I like to think of assessment as a series of personal bests.”
Personalized Learning
No excuse for sucky items
This country is stuck in a psychometric box based on a history of data poverty. Cisco's John Behrens developed an assessment system that is rigorous, scalable, and available on demand. K-12 should take note.
Personalized Learning
The Cost-Comparability Conundrum
We’re stuck and $365 million may not help. The United States places an unusual degree of importance on the reliability of yearend standardized tests. These tests have been around for 15 years and, because we have so little performance data, we try to use them for a variety of purposes. …
EdTech
SETDA Outlines State of Online Assessment
The State EdTech Directors issued a white paper outlining the current state of online assessment. The report makes 9 recommendations about moving forward.
Personalized Learning
More on Assessment: Revolution not Evolution
A state testing director said “We need assessment revolution not evolution" but he and his colleagues are in a tough box. It will take leadership and support to launch better assessment systems.
Personalized Learning
More On Assessment
I don't want one big cheap end of year test used for more than it should be. I don't want it to lock in the teacher-centric age cohort model for another decade. I don't want simple assessments, I want complex performance based assessments.
Personalized Learning
Preserving Access to an Uncommon Curriculum
For deeper learning and dramatic improvement in college readiness, we need super systems rather than super tests: correlated components rather than common exams, and annual versions that evolve with capability.
Personalized Learning
The Shift to Digital will Challenge States
It's time for states to build an integrated plan for the shift to personal digital learning starting with online testing. Online testing will produce better, cheaper, faster performance feedback for students, teachers, and system heads