What is assessment of learning?
The term assessment of learning is used when we seek to determine a learner’s achievement, attainment and/or progress. We certify learning to meet public accountability requirements for schools and to evaluate students and their teachers.
Using the correct measure for the intended purpose, making sure measures conform to standards of quality and knowing how to collect, analyze and report results are all important features of assessment of learning.
A few resources are identified here that acknowledge the demands of high-level standards and assessing these standards to certify learning. For additional resources, see our curated collection below or visit our Resource Bank.
Criteria for High Quality Student Assessments & Assessment Systems
- Assess higher-order cognitive skills
- Assess critical abilities in real-world contexts
- Use assessments based on standards internationally benchmarked
- Assessments use items that are instructionally sensitive and educationally valuable
- Assessments are valid, reliable and fair
Darling-Hammond, Herman, Pellegrino et.al. (2013). Criteria for high quality assessment. Stanford, CA: SCOPE.
We’ve assembled more resources for this topic below.
A New Era for Educational Assessment
Paper by David T. Conley (2014) written for Students at the Center, a project outlining the practices necessary to advance 21st century learners. www.studentsatthecenter.org (SATC)
A Public Policy Statement
This paper is a report from the Gordon Commission on proposed changes to the purposes and methods of assessment.
Assessment Playbook for Distance and Blended Learning
This book by authors Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Vince Bustamante, and John Hattie offers advice for Measuring Student Learning in Any Setting.
Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment (AAIA)
The Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment (AAIA) promotes assessment practice that supports learning. The resources on this site are organized by Assessment of Learning and Assessment for Learning.
CCSSO: Tools and Resources for Standards Implementation
Since development of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), many resources have been developed by CCSSO and others to develop quality assessments that align to the CCSS.
Commitments from CCSSO and CGCS on High Quality Assessments
This brief paper summarizes what assessments of learning should accomplish and standards we should observe in construction and use.
Steps in the Right Direction: A Guide to Using and Reporting Assessment Results
This guide can help local educators use student assessment results, as well as the process of reporting the results, to help build public confidence and support, strengthen the family’s role in schooling, and help students learn the challenging standards being assessed.
What are summative assessments?
This Learning Point describes some key characteristics of summative assessment and describes its role within a balanced assessment system.
What does it mean to use matrix sampling in student assessment? MAC, 2018
This ThinkPoint describes what matrix sampling is, when it might be used, and some of the benefits and challenges of using it when assessing all students in a group may not be necessary.