Barriers to Using High Quality Assessment

Barriers

Possible Solutions to Barriers

Unclear targets

¬      Use a team of teachers to help define the target

¬      Provide clearly written rubrics

¬      Develop clear units

¬      Use state and/or national standards to guide the assessment and unit

Choosing an incorrect method of assessment

¬      Determine who needs the assessment data and why

¬      Determine what students should know and/or be able to do

Lack of time to teach necessary information

¬      Design units with appropriate timeframes that culminate in assessment

¬      Focus on the knowledge that you want students to know and/or be able to do

¬      Provide clearly written rubrics to students

Lack of differentiation in assessment tools

¬      Provide multiple methods of gathering data

¬      Utilize more than just selected response assessments

¬      Align the assessment to the type of data needed

Lack of knowledge or inexperience of teacher

¬      Use a team of teachers to help create assessments

¬      Utilize mentors and/or peer reviewers to determine appropriate assessment tools

¬      Adapt units and assessments from master teachers

Lack of valid data

¬      Provide more opportunities for assessment

¬      Utilize informal and observational assessments

¬      Utilize differentiated tests

Large number of students

¬      Use portfolio assessments that can be reviewed over several weeks.

¬      Have students do some peer review

¬      Utilize technology to manage the large amounts of data collected

Traveling from school to school each week (no home base)

¬      Use portfolio assessments that are kept in each school

¬      Utilize web based testing to allow students to access testing when teacher is not physically in the building