Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners Ch. 6

Standard Error of Measurement (SEM)

A statistical measure that indicates a range of trustworthiness of an individual student's standardized test score.

Peer Assessment

Students' assessment of each other's work or performances.

Self-Assessment

Students' assessment of their own performance, typically guided by a checklist or rubric.

Testing

The administration of tests, singular instruments designed to systematically measure a sample of a student's ability at one particular time.

Assessment

The process of collecting and interpreting relevant information about a client or research participant

Validity

accuracy of a test or assessment in measuring what it purports to measure.

Reliability

the consistency with which a test or assessment measures what it is measuring.

Performance Assessment

A form of assessment in which students are evaluated on their ability to perform a specific academic task or set of related tasks

Norm-referenced Test

A test designed to indicate how an individual performs in relation to a comparison of grade/age level peers. An IQ test is an example of this.

Portfolio Assessment

Assessment of student work collected throughout the school year and organized in a portfolio. Enables the assessment of students' progress and growth based on authentic samples of student work.

Summative Assessment

Assessment that provides a summary of what students know and can do. Typically given at the en of a unit or at the end of a school year.

Multiple Measures

Different forms of formal and informal formative and summative assessments used together to provide accurate measures of what a student knows and can do.

Accommodation

In testing ELLs refers to modifications in the testing environment or testing procedures, or modifications to the test instrument itself, that are intended to make up for a student's lack of proficiency in the language of the test.

Bias

In testing, refers to the unfair advantages or disadvantages that may be given to certain students that can affect their performance.

Next-generation Assessments

Refers to content and English language proficiency assessments developed in response to federal requirements for ESEA Flexibility. These assessments are designed to measure required college and career readiness standards and corresponding English language proficiency standards. Examples include the PARRC and Smarter Balanced assessments associated with the Common Core State Standards, and the WIDA (ACCESS 2.0) and ELPA21 assessments. Most of these assessments are delivered by computer or mobile devices and include technology-enhanced questions that go beyond traditional paper-and-pencil multiple-choice tests. Some also use computer-adaptive testing techniques.

Criterion-Referenced List

Test designed to measure the degree to which students have mastered tested content.

Evaluation

The use of assessment data to make judgments about the progress of students' learning the effectiveness of teacher instruction or the quality of education programs.

Value-Added Measurement (VAM)

The use of high-stakes test results to calculate student academic growth over time. VAMs are often (mis)used in teacher evaluation systems.

Formative Assessment

The use of ongoing assessments that help to identify a students' strengths and needs and thus inform subsequent instruction, building on these strengths while addressing these needs.