Accurate Answers
A high-school biology teacher, Nicholas, relies heavily on his students' test
performances when he assigns grades to those students. Typically, he sends his
selected-response classroom tests to the district's assessment director who,
usually in 24 hours, returns a set of item analyses to the teachers. These analyses
usually contain an overall mean and a standard deviation for each class's test
performances, as well as p-values and item-discrimination indicators for every
item in each test. Nicholas teaches four different biology classes, so four separate
analyses are carried out at the district office. Nicholas is pleased that very few of
his tests' items display exceptionally high or exceptionally low p-values.
Moreover, the vast majority of the items appear to have discrimination indices of
a positive .25 or above. Three items have negative discrimination indices. After
looking at the phrasing of th correct answer Nicholas was appropriately pleased
with the results of the district-conducted item analyses, and he made a sensible
decision to revise the three negatively discriminating items.
A parent receives his child's grade equivalent score on the third-grade math
assessment. The grade equivalent score is 5.3. The parent calls the teacher to
discuss whether or not his daughter should skip the fourth grade. Which of the
following pieces of advice is most appropriate? correct answer None of these
represent appropriate advice.
Anita Gonzales teaches middle-school English courses. At least half of her
classroom tests call for students to author original compositions. Her other tests
are typically composed of selected-response items. Anita has recently committed
herself to the improvement of these selected-response tests, so when she
distributes those tests to her students, she also supplies an item-improvement
questionnaire to each student. The questionnaire asks students as they complete
their tests to identify any items that they regard as (1) confusing, (2) having
multiple correct answers, (3) having no correct answers, or (4) containing
, unfamiliar vocabulary terms. Students are to turn in their questionnaires along
with their completed tests, but are given the option of turning in the
questionnaires anonymously or not.
Which statement most accurately portrays Anita's test-improvement procedures?
correct answer Although seeking students' judgments regarding her tests has
much to commend it, Anita should have sought students' reactions to a test only
after they had completed
it—by
distributing blank copies of the test along with the item-improvement
questionnaire.
Consider the perspective of a teacher who believes in the importance of affective
assessment. Which represents a reasonable rationale for investing in affective
assessment? correct answer Affective variables have a direct effect on the
educational outcomes of students as they influence factors such as student
motivation.
Consider the three statements. Which are considered characteristics of portfolio
assessments?
I. Assesses all students on the same dimensions.
II. Addresses achievement only.
III. Separates learning, testing, and teaching. correct answer None of these
represent characteristics of portfolio assessment.
Considering the knowledge you've gained regarding formative assessment in this
chapter, which of the following characteristics of a class discussion could yield
formative assessment information? correct answer Class discussions that show
what students are thinking