How to Assess Every Learner

School districts across the country are increasing their reliability on state standardized tests to measure student and teacher performance. In turn, many teachers have the resources to assess their students other than paper and pencil but don’t so they can prepare them for the state tests.  If we do this we are not getting an accurate assessment of the students’ knowledge and thought process and therefore are unable to tell their real understanding. If we offer them multiple tools for their own styles and needs “they are not hindered by the medium of expression and are more likely to be able to demonstrate what they know and know how to do”(Rose 2002). Although this takes times and multiple variations of the test, it is crucial to measure what they know and where we can help them. 

I have done this in my math class using whiteboards, partial credit, no multiple choice, and aids among other things to measure their performance.  I have found letting them have the help that I use when teaching gives me a better idea of not just what they remembered but if they can apply it to the concept. Although it takes extra time, I feel like it cuts down the time I am re-teaching because I have specific data on their weaknesses and know where to pinpoint my efforts.

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Chapter 7. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes