Untitled Slide

Assessment or Evaluation

From Columbia University...

"We typically assess student learning in terms of their grades on quizzes, tests, and papers. But this kind of assessment comes too late—it give us no chance to adjust our teaching in order to improve students’ content mastery or skills. An alternative approach emphasizes how assessment can help us improve our teaching."

Assessment focuses on learning, teaching and outcomes. It provides information for improving learning and teaching and informs faculty how well their students are learning what they are teaching.

The information is used by faculty to make changes in the learning environment, and is shared with students to assist them in improving their learning and study habits. This information is learner-centered, course based, frequently anonymous, and not graded.

EVALUATION

FOCUSES ON GRADES AND MAY REFLECT CLASSROOM COMPONENTS OTHER THAN COURSE CONTENT AND MASTERY LEVEL. THESE COULD INCLUDE DISCUSSION, COOPERATION, ATTENDANCE, AND VERBAL ABILITY.

Some Final thoughts

• Assessments measure students' attainment of learning objective.
• Assessments measure the level of student success.
• Assessments should be varied.
• There should be a connections between the way students learn and the way the are tested on it.
• Assessments should include formal and informal evaluations.
• Students should know the evaluation plan at the beginning of the course.

SAMPLE OBJECTIVE

The student will be able to list the three types of minor scales in western music and correctly demonstrate the characteristics of each type.

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

Knowledge/Comprehension
(List and define)

Application
(demonstrate)

ASSIGNMENT

The student will compose and perform an 8 measure melody using the melodic, harmonic, or natural minor scale.

Will the assignment be graded?
Is this a stand alone check point or will the student be building on this skill? (adding an accompaniment next, adding a style component?)
Are there hidden elements for this assessment? (instrument, what key, measures marked, key signature, time signature, etc.)
Will the student be doing the assignment in class or recording and submitting in electronic form?

WILL A RUBRIC HELP?

Assignment Rubric

• Must be done in the assigned minor scale
• Written composition must have the key, time signatures
• Measures must be correctly defined
• Rhythms correctly notated
• Performance must match the written composition.