Home › Archive for Assessment
Blog Archives

Re-forming Summative Assessments

Re-forming Summative Assessments: Blurring the line between learning and testing

What if we could make that timeless question ‘Will this be on the test’ irrelevant? In today’s mainstream educational system we clearly differentiate between assessment and learning. Even when it comes to assessment meant to inform learning (formative assessment) we tend to distinguish between learning and showing that we learned new content and skills. What if we could bring the two much closer… so close that you can’t distinguish one from the other? In this show we will explore research and development efforts and products that move us closer to this seamless learning environment. We will examine what impact this has on products in development today and how this might change the way you think about your offering in the future.

We will explore the following questions:

  • What does a learning environment look like where learning and assessment are seamlessly integrated?
  • What are the benefits and issues with this approach?
  • Does this require technology or are there strategies that transcend the use of technology?
  • How does this integration fit in a world of high stakes assessment?
  • How can a content developer take advantage of this strategy to improve their existing and new products?

Guests at the table:

  1. Elizabeth Greninger, Ph.D.,  Managing Associate and Teacher Quality Specialist at edCount, LLC
  2. Stuart Kahl, Founding Principal and former CEO of Measured Progress
  3. Shawn Morgan, District Data Coordinator at CNY Regional Information Center

Standards, Standards, Everywhere

July  2014 — Standards, Standards, Everywhere: 

The Technical Side of Education Standards

When someone mentions standards in education most people assume they are referring to curriculum or instructional standard. Get ready to delve into the world of technical standards that serve as the foundation of our digital offerings. We’ll take a look at a wide variety of such standards and examine how they impact your product implementation, platform support, and business development.

For those of you who shy away from the technical, this is an opportunity to unwrap some of the jargon you hear but have been too embarrassed to ask about… xml, HTML5, APIP, Dublin Core, RDFa all sound familiar but you have no idea what they mean? Stop just nodding knowingly and learn what you need to know to engage in discussion about how to apply these standards to make the best products.

For those propeller heads out there, we have a seat at the Table for you as well. Get up to date on the latest happenings on several different standards and join the online discussion. It’s a veritable technical feast!

Knowledge is key to driving business and structuring your solutions so you can address the needs of your customers. Join host Michael Jay and guests as they explore the structure behind standards and answer questions such as:

  1. How are instructional standards continuing to evolve?
  2. What are the impacts instructional standards have on teaching and learning?
  3. What standards are used by publishers and development shops?
  4. What impact do standards have on my business?

Ed Table Talk welcomes individuals at any level of expertise. Experts and beginners alike can embrace the value of understanding more about standards, and the common misconceptions. It’s going to get technical, as Michael Jay and guests explore the deeper side to standards.

Guests at The Table:

  • Bethann Canada, Director of Educational Information Management for the Virginia Dept. of Education
  • Jim Goodell, Senior Analyst at Quality Information Partners, Inc.
  • Matt Howard, Manager of Digital Experiences Strategy at Zaner-Bloser

Listen to the show down below:


Making Assessment Actionable

January 2014 — Don’t just tell us they’re doing poorly, help us do something about it!

With the advent of NCLB, rise of the Common Core, and a focus on quantifying learning, assessment is doing hand-to-hand combat with learning for the educational steering wheel. Schools are under a lot of pressure, students feel stressed to earn high grades, and teachers are faced with increased accountability for student learning. Michael Jay and guests will delve into how data can and is utilized by teachers, students, administrators and learning systems for learning and teaching.

Education Table Talk tackled the big questions like how do we change community expectations about what makes for good evidence in learning? And how do we improve educational legislation to employ a systemic model to educational improvement?

Ed Table Talk provided information on upcoming conferences, guests’ Donor’s Choose projects, highlights from MCH’s Early Childhood Marketing Leadership Council meeting, and “You Can’t Handle the Truth!”

Guests at the Table:

Brian Rick
Research and Assessment Director, Bellingham Public School District
Kathy Dyer
Senior Curriculum Specialist, Northwest Evaluation Association
Helene Duvin
Director, Education and Assessment Solutions, Pacific Metrics

Listen:

View: