Assessment Literacy: The Heart of Teacher Education

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Many educators and educational researchers believe that large-scale standardized achievement tests are misused and abused, that they are the cause of the achievement gap, and that they do little to improve teaching and learning. The purpose of this session is not to refute these beliefs, but to sound an alarm bell for the need of teacher education programs to instill a deep conceptual assessment literacy in pre-service teachers. Participants will provide various perspectives as to why it is imperative for teachers to understand how to interpret and use evidence to make sound instructional decisions, create and utilize valid and reliable assessments to use in their classrooms, and evaluate the use of large-scale mandated tests, with respect to validity.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chair

• Cindy M. Walker, Research Analytics Consulting, LLC

Participants

• Carl Cohn, Claremont Graduate University

• Debbie Durrence, Gwinnett County Public Schools

• Michael J. Feuer, The George Washington University

• Deb Kerr, Brown Deer School District

• Arturo Olivarez, The University of Texas - El Paso

• Deb Schanley, Council of Great City Schools

• Catherine S. Taylor, University of Washington

• Cindy M. Walker, Research Analytics Consulting, LLC

• Donna L Wiseman, University of Maryland

Discussant

• Catherine S. Taylor, University of Washington