In this learning activity, you will review web sites that explore the two areas of consideration for choosing appropriate assessment instruments for your students. Click on the terms to explore.
Curriculum Alignment
Most school districts have taken the time to align mandated curriculum to the state's standards. Florida's Sunshine State Standards are contained in Florida-adopted textbooks and what is taught is aligned with these standards. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Sunshine State Standards (FCAT SSS) then assesses those standards taught in the curriculum. You may have heard people mention " teaching to the test." If you have aligned your curriculum to the standards and then taught the standards, you are, in a sense, teaching the test. It is important that we assess what we teach and teach what is going to be assessed. Carefully aligning curriculum and instruction to established standards, and assessing whether or not the standards have been learned, comprise effective practices.
Click on the following link to learn more about curriculum alignment.
http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment
Cultural Bias
The
many words and phrases used by peoples of the world today make creating
a test with no cultural biases a difficult task. Testing
formats, time accommodations, and types of exams may vary from culture
to culture. It is important to be aware of cultural bias in assessment.
You have just looked at two concepts that are crucial to the appropriateness of the assessment instruments you will use: curriculum alignment and cultural bias. You may check your understanding of this section by clicking on the assessment button at the bottom of the "Learning Activities" page, or you may wait to complete your self-check at the end of this unit section.
