Smart Tests

High-stakes accountability and the growing move towards standardized testing are placing teacher knowledge and assessment skills under ever-increasing scrutiny. Teachers know what is going on in their classrooms and have first-hand reliable evidence of what their students can accomplish. They can be the major factor in student assessment and help their students better demonstrate what they have learned.Smart Testsshows educators how to create well-structured evaluation tools that match assessment tasks to the purpose and content of instruction. Teachers learn how to relate testing directly to classroom goals and activities and make assessment an integral part of learning and teaching, not just the end result. They will find the information they need to build assessment tasks that give students in grades K8 the opportunity to succeed. These tasks encourage students to apply new knowledge, reflect and defend their thoughts and opinions, and connect what they learn the world beyond the classroom.

Edgar Schmidt is the Supervisor for Research Support and Resource Development Services in Edmonton Public Schools.