Assessment in the Elementary Classroom

Assessment in the Elementary Classroom is a 3-credit course for students designed to cover a range of assessment issues critical for 1st-6th grade classrooms. The goal is to provide 1st to 6th grade teachers with an assessment foundation, and give them the tools to construct valid classroom tests that not only reliably measure student achievement and proficiency, but also serve to helpguide instructional decisions. A variety of assessment-focused issues will beexplored, including the following:1. Formative and summative assessment in 1st to 6th grade classrooms2. Key concepts in assessment (including validity, reliability, and practicality)3. Alternative forms of assessment (portfolios, journals, authentic assessment, performance assessment)4. Norm- and criterion-referenced testing