EDUC 254 

Revised 07/08/2002 10:06:48 AM

Single Subjects Assignment Revised (1 and 2 combined)

Due final day of class, July 17^th. 

1. How is the measurement of aptitude and personality different than the measurement of achievement or attitude?  Provide examples in your response.
2. A high school is preparing to offer a Scholastic Achievement Test I (the SAT for a college aptitude) test preparation class.  What are your thoughts on this proposal?
3. Which theory of cognitive abilities best fits your own experiences as a learner and teacher? (Note: if assignment completed as a group, each individual must include a separate response for this item.)  
4. Provide personal examples of an assessment you felt was unfair. Given what you now know about the potential weaknesses of assessments, why was it unfair?  (Note: if assignment completed as a group, each individual must include a separate response for this item.)  
5. Explain the differences between a norm and criterion-referenced test and provide an example in which each would be appropriately used.
6. Provide a range of definitions (analogies are fine) for the terms reliability and validity.  Explain the relationship between them.   For instance, can you have one without the other?
7. Hand compute the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation for the first set of scores.  Use Excel or a calculator for the second.  

20	40
25	50
35	60
50	65
61	67
73	70
73	70
74	73
77	75
78	80
99	90
100	100

8.      What are the primary differences in measures of central tendency and measures of variability between these two sets of scores?  

9. What is the common misinterpretation regarding grade level norms?  Provide two examples demonstrating how unknowing teachers might misuse grade level norms? 
10. How can stanines be misleading?
11. One of your student's reading (or any content area)  scores on a standardized test dropped ten percentile points, from 60%tile to 50%tile, from the previous year. What are some possible explanations for this effect?   
12. Using the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation web site, use the Test Locator to find a test you might consider using in your work.  Provide a rationale.
13. Based on the readings on the AP tests, what are the primary disadvantages of the AP tests?   
14. What is meant by assessment bias? How can teachers reduce assessment bias?
15. Imagine a student who might  be an unidentified learning disabled student.   Write a student study team referral for that student including: the warning signs of learning disabilities you noticed, their classroom behavior suggestive of learning disabilities, the student's achievement problems, and indications of the students aptitude.
16. What are some of the ways you could provide test accommodations for the learning disabled students in your classroom? What resources might be available at your school to help you with this? 
17. Write 2 good and bad items representing each of the following formats, noting the advantages and disadvantages of each type of item: short answer, binary choice, matching, multiple choice.
18. What are the advantages and disadvantages of “authentic” assessment strategies? 
19. Create a short scoring rubric (for any content area) sensitive to the issues of reliability, validity, and practicality. 
20.  Examine the semantic mapping test items on the CRESST website. Create 2 semantic mapping items for the content area(s) of your choice. What are the advantages of this method of assessment? 
21. Review the Bangert-Drowns et al., Mehrens and Kaminiski article with regard to how you plan to prepare your students for the SAT-9 or other standardized tests? 

 

"Challenge" Items  (Choose to do none, some or all). 

1. Sattler begins a critique of Gardner's theory of intelligence.  Provide your own critique of Gardner's theory and explain why you believe educators have become so enchanted by it.
2. Create set of data (minimum 50 data points) that demonstrates the properties of a bimodal distribution.  Use Excel's Histogram function (or hand draw) to show your data.
3. Demonstrate (with examples using the formula) how the reliability of a test can affect the standard error of measurement. 
4. Using the Mental Measurements Yearbook (any volume, call no.  Z5814.P8B932 in Mc Henry Reference Section) find a review of any test familiar to you.  Is the review favorable?  Why or why not? 
5. Provide a description and psychometric critique of the CA High School Exit Exam.  
6. Provide a brief critique of the report cards used in your student teaching assignment.  How could they be altered to better suit the purpose of communicating student achievement to parents?