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Assessing Student Understanding in Science
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Assessing Student Understanding in Science
A Standards-Based K-12 Handbook

Second Edition


November 2009 | 216 pages | Corwin
Educators need a way to better assess science curriculum, teaching, and student learning to help our students become leaders, not just followers, in their technological future. Sandra Enger and Robert Yager, two experts in the field, provide the way. Comprehensive yet accessible, this book is packed full of methods for assessing the National Science Education Standards adopted by the National Research Councilùthe basis for most state and local standards. Alternative assessments, rubrics, grade level exemplars, and ideas for teachers to evaluate and improve their own curriculum and instruction make this practical hands-on guide a must. This book addresses critical issues of assessment including:Criteria to measure student progress in the six domains of science: concepts, processes, applications, attitude, the nature of science, and creativity Assessing student learning Evaluating teaching practice Designing rubrics and scoring guidesThis second edition of Assessing Student Understanding in Science: A Standards-Based Kû12 Handbook has been updated throughout and includes a new chapter on using notebooks in the science classroom, as well as extensive coverage of the use of formative assessment during science instruction.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
1. A Framework for Assessing Student Understanding in Science
Assessment Based on Six Domains of Science

 
I. Conceptual Domain

 
II. Process Domain

 
III. Application Domain

 
IV. Attitude Domain

 
V. Creativity Domain

 
VI. Nature of Science Domain

 
Assessment Approaches Aligned With the Six Domains

 
 
2. Assessment in the Contexts of Teaching
Planning Instruction and Assessment

 
What Assessment Is

 
Formative and Summative Assessment

 
Assessment Types and Approaches

 
National Science Education Assessment Standards

 
Implementing Assessment Guidelines

 
The Internet as an Assessment Resource

 
 
3. Evaluating Teaching Practice
Action Research

 
Assessment of Classroom Practice With Video Recording Support

 
Sources of Instrumentation for Assessing Practice

 
Self-Assessment of Constructivist Practice

 
Science-as-Inquiry Surveys

 
 
4. Rubrics and Scoring Guides
Rubrics and Scoring Guides: What Are They?

 
Rubric Construction: A Teacher's Perspective

 
Rubric or Scoring Guide Design

 
Examples of Tasks and Rubrics

 
How Well Does a Rubric Communicate the Original Task?

 
 
5. Science Notebooks
Science Notebooks: Formative and Summative Assessment Tools

 
Notebook Scaffolds

 
Assessment Components for Notebooks

 
Supporting Graphing Skills and Abilities

 
 
6. Assessment Examples for All Grade Levels
Open-Ended Questions (Integrates Domains)

 
Student Laboratory Environment Inventory (Integrates Domains)

 
Ideas for Assessing in the Application Domain

 
Observation Checklist (Integrates Domains)

 
Use of Application-Level Multiple-Choice Questions

 
Examples for the Creativity Domain

 
Assessing Attitudes, Preferences, and Processes

 
 
7. Assessment Examples for Grades K Through 4
Applying Process Skills and Experimental Design

 
Application Assessment Items for Grades K Through 3

 
Assessing Attitudes About Science

 
Student Self-Assessment

 
Assessing Perceptions About Scientists

 
 
8. Assessment Examples for Grades 5 Through 8
Developing a Group Performance Task

 
Preparation for Standardized Tests

 
Electronic Portfolios for Students

 
Structuring Peer Assessment for Cooperative Groups

 
Class Assessment of Group Project Presentations

 
 
9. Assessment Examples for Grades 9 Through 12
Using the Student Laboratory Environment Inventory

 
Looking at Science Processes

 
Assessing Specific Areas of Understanding

 
Assessing Students' Views of the Scientific Process

 
 
Glossary of Assessment-Related Terminology
 
References
 
Index

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