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A Model for Classroom Assessment In Trinidad & Tobago

Four Level Classroom Assessment Model-FPSI

In this model, there are four levels (or elements) when designing assessments to support and promote teaching-learning

Most classroom assessments should be formative (for and as learning)
There should be an explicit focus on performance assessment in the classroom so you can support students' performance of understanding.
Performance assessments should be used to foster 21^st century skills.
Performance assessments should be designed to explicitly promote integrated learning, with themes taken either from the curriculum or from the students themselves.

Powerpoint on the model

FPSI MODEL Illustrated

Formative Assessment Videos on the Teaching Channel

Forms of Integration-Diagrams by Susan Drake (2004)

MULTIDISCIPLINARY

INTERDISCIPLINARY

TRANSDISCIPLINARY

Key Principles in FPSI

Assessment is a key component of modern day effective pedagogical practice designed to promote learning in the classroom (Wiliam, 2011; Wiliam & Thompson, 2007).
Formative feedback is the key to successfully promoting and supporting student learning (Hattie & Timperely, 2007; Sadler, 1989, 1998).
Formative assessment should promote self and peer assessment (Assessment as learning with the goal of self-regulation). (Black and Wiliam, 2009; Earl, 2012)
The role of performance assessments is critical in a system of diversified assessment (Brookhart, 2009; Darling-Hammond & Adamson, 2014; Wiggins, 1998).
One important benefit is the use of performance understanding to diagnose and improve feedback (Moss & Brookhart, 2015).
Performance assessment facilitates the assessment of 21^st century skills and the generation of contexts for integrated learning (Scardamalia et al. 2012).

References

Black, P. J., & Wiliam, D. (2009). Developing the theory of formative assessment. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability, 21(1), 5–31.
Brookhart, S. (2009). The many meanings of “multiple measures.”. Educational Leadership, 67(3), 6-12.
Darling-Hammond L. & Adamson F. (2014). Beyond the bubble test: How performance assessments support 21st century learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Earl, L. (2012). Assessment as learning (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of educational research, 77(1), 81-112.
C.M. Moss & S.M. Brookhart (2015). Formative classroom walkthroughs: how principals and teachers collaborate to raise student achievement. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Sadler, D. R. (1989). Formative assessment and the design of instructional systems. Instructional science, 18(2), 119-144.
Sadler, D. R. (1998). Formative assessment: Revisiting the territory. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 5(1), 77-84.
Scardamalia, M., Bransford, J., Kozma. R., & Quellmalz, E. (2012). New assessments and environments for knowledge building. In P. Griffin, B. McGaw & E. Care (Eds.), Assessment and teaching of 21st century skills (pp. 67–142). Dordrecht, Germany: Springer.
Wiggins, G. P. (1998). Educative assessment: Designing assessments to inform and improve student performance (Vol. 1). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Wiliam, D. (2011). What is assessment for learning?. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 37, 3-14.
Wiliam, D., & Thompson, M. (2008). Integrating assessment with instruction: What will it take to make it work? In C. A. Dwyer (Ed.), The future of assessment: Shaping teaching and learning (pp. 53–82). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Read Wynne Harlen's work on assessment in the UK Primary school

Theory of Action

Creating an Integrated Unit

CXC SBA POLICY

May 5, 2016

In 2011, CXC implemented an SBA policy that outlines the way SBAs should be conducted. The following are key components of the policy:

Group/team work of SBA should be encouraged and utilized where appropriate.
Students doing more than one subject in a cognate group (for example, the Sciences) should submit one SBA per cognate group.
Each SBA across levels should be of consistent size. Word count should not exceed 1000 for CSEC and 1500 for CAPE subjects.
The term School-Based Assessment replaces other terms used at various levels for internal assessment.
The use of portfolios, observations, learning journals, presentations, observations, peer evaluations and research assignments in the SBA should be endorsed and implemented.
Students should be allowed to submit SBA electronically.
SBAs for Mathematics and English will take effect from the revision of those syllabuses (Teaching begins in September 2016 and first examination in 2018).
A thematic approach should be employed in the development of SBAs.

The FPSI is consistent with this advice

SBA Handbook

SBA Guidelines_Trinidad

Activities and Integrated Assessment-ECCE

ALL ABOUT THE ANTS

THEME: Activity or Experiences that motivate the children

Class: 3-5 years old

Time: 3 days

(See ECCE Curriculum, 2005, p. 87)

Topic-interesting Bugs

Content/Skills/Competencies

Science, Visual Art, ELA, Music, Play, Inquiry, Collaboration, Communication,

Task Description:

Students engage in four activities related to learning about ants- their structure and behaviour (such as finding food)

In the classroom or on the field (Ant Safari) they explore ants, ant habitats, and ant behaviour.
They look at and discuss a video or kid movie on ants (Antz, Ant Bully, or a Bug Life)
They learn and perform a song on ants (May be used with a dress-up)
They made a model, collage, or an ant farm or they dress up as ants and perform a short play based upon their observations.

Resources:

Ants-Nature's Secrets

The Ants go Marching One by One - Song

The Ant Bully

Ant Activities

Making an Ant Farm

(For Adults ONLY)

EO Wilson-A Great "Ant" Scientist-PBS-Lord of the Ants

Big Idea/s

Plants and animals are adapted to live in different habitats and are interdependent. Insects have antennae and six legs. Inquiry requires us to carry out investigations through observations and recordings to produce evidence-based conclusions.

See Reference 1

See Reference 2

Formative Assessment Flow

Where the learner is going-

Activity 1-Ants Safari

Activity 2-Video

Activity 3-Song

Where the learner is now-

Ant Farm/Collage/Dress Up and Play

How to get there

Assessment Conversations

Observations

Model/Costumes

A note

Document your performance assesments. You do not have to use MCs or CRS in 3-5. However, you must record and transcribe even your assessment conversations and document all student work.

SAMPLE INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT-PRIMARY SCHOOL

THEME: Our Region: The Caribbean-Waters that Link and Divide Us

Class: Standard 3 Term 1

Time: 1 week

(See Standards in Toolkit, page 47-56)

Topic-Aquatic Habitats in the Buccoo Reef

Content/Skills/Competencies

Science, ELA, Mathematics, Social Studies

Collaboration, Communication, Citizenship

Task Description:

Students engage in a one week series of activities in which they learn the science and social relevance of the Buccoo Reef in Tobago. The activity culminates in oral presentations/exhibitions on "Save the Buccoo Reef" and a social media facebook page or YouTube video advocating action on conservation and protection.

Big Idea

Plants and animals are adapted to live in different habitats and are interdependent. Human activity can have a considerable effect on natural habitats. Taking action to ensure a sustainable environment is part of local and global citizenship.

Formative Assessment Flow

Where the learner is going-

Students explore newspaperclippings, publications and videoclips on Buccoo Reef (ELA)

Teacher clarifies the role and importance of reefs in island ecosystems (Science)

Teacher reviews the economic impact of reef tourism (Social Sciences)

Teacher discusses conservation and protection of natural resources (Social Studies/Science)

Sample Videos

Video 1a- Buccoo reef

Video 1b-Buccoo

Video 2-Fish Reef Habitats

Video 3-What is a Coral

Key Questions

What are coral reefs?
What are the facts and figures on the Buccoo Reef (Math)
Why are coral reefs important?
What are some habitats within a coral reef ecosystem?
What are some human occupations related to economic activity on the reef?
What are some ways in which reefs can be protected?

Optional-Here you may use SRs and CRs to provide feeback through Quizzes, Exit Slips and Reviews

Things you can do

Provide vocabulary word lists for ELA

Where the learner is now-

Teacher explains role of citizen in protecting the environment. Citizens are advocates and empowered citizens communicate with other citizens on important social issues. Collaboration between citizens is critical to successful communication and action.

Activity 1: Oral presentationS/exhibitionS

A Variety of Habitats in the Buccoo Reef
The Buccoo Reef as a Tourism Product
Citizen Advocacy in Protecting the Buccoo Reef

Activity 2: Facebook page

Activity 3 (Optional) Field Trip

Activity 4 (Optional) Scrap Book or Portfolio

How to get there

Teacher provides feedback during activity

Students review communication and collaboration rubrics

(Optional) Construct Digital or Paper Exit Tickets

Toolkit Reference

Sample High School Performance Assessment

Source: CSEC Biology Syllabus (P. 17)

Reference-Here

Create a PowerPoint presentation, movie or poster on the importance of Marine and Coastal areas
in the Caribbean (Interpret data on pages 56-63 in the Caribbean Environmental Outlook).
http://hqweb.unep.org/geo/GEO_Regions.asp Identify at least TWO threats to these fragile
ecosystems.

TOPIC: SECTION A - LIVING ORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Class: Form 4, Term 1

Time: 1 week to 1 month

Topic-Importance of Marine and Coastal Areas in a Caribbean small island state

Content/Skills/Competencies

Biology, ELA, Geography, Problem Solving, Inquiry, Collaboration, Communication, Citizenship

Task Description:

Students work in groups of five to eight. Each person is given a specific job description and role. Roles must include editor, narrator, camera operator, script writer and producer. Group engages in task analysis, research and video production.

Students are to create a 20 to 30 minute movie focusing upon conservation and protection of marine areas in Trinidad and Tobago. The movie must be solution focused, emphasizing conservation and sustianable use. Accompanying the movie is a four page brochure highlighting the econoimic-social-biological issues and providing recommendations for sustainable use.

Group 1: swamps and mangroves

Group 2: The beachfront (sandy shores)

Group 3: The rocky shore habitat

Group 4: Coral reef ecosystems

Group 5: Seas and Oceans-Underwater habitats

Threads: Economic activity, conservation, marine pollution, iodiversity, and biology

Big Idea

The interaction of living and nonliving elements of nature constitutes an ecosystem, and each one of the interactions is important to maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.