In a post-pandemic education setting, assessment provides a way to gain critical insight into student thinking and learning and the areas where support is needed to progress toward learning goals. While thoughtful assessment design and implementation is necessary for student success, building a strong assessment culture in your school is often overlooked, but just as important.
iste We are collaborating with National Center for Educational Evaluation and Improvement (NCIEA) Explore the characteristics of a healthy evaluation culture. The first step is to consider the idea of school culture and how it supports the related concept of assessment culture.
Significance of school culture
School culture is the set of implicit assumptions, beliefs, and expectations that drive activities and behaviors within a school. This includes: Unwritten rules about decision-making and the types of accomplishments that are recognized and celebrated.. According to research, School reforms often fail because they conflict with or ignore existing school culture..
Similarly, assessment culture is shaped by the underlying beliefs and expectations that students, educators, and leaders have about assessment practices. Just as a school’s culture supports or hinders efforts to implement new ideas, a school’s assessment culture also determines whether assessment practices directly or indirectly positively impact teaching and learning. may affect.
Contrasting perspectives on evaluation culture
We can view different elements of assessment culture on a continuum, from less supportive to more supportive of teaching and learning. Imagine a school where students talk about assessment as a process to see if they are smart (or not). Compare this to other schools where students see assessment as a process. Identify strengths and weaknesses that will inform what to do next.we know that Students who adopt a growth mindset are better able to tackle difficult tasks, deal with learning obstacles, and take ownership of their learning.. In other words, using formative assessment as a learning tool fosters this growth mindset in students.
Now let’s contrast the experiences of teachers. Some schools have limited assessment-related professional learning opportunities and focus solely on managing purchased products. In other schools, professional learning opportunities associated with continuous assessment prioritize formative assessment practices embedded in student learning experiences.
The research results are clear: Formative assessment has positive outcomes for student learning. Although teachers are often trained in summative assessment and test preparation, they are not provided with sufficient professional development to implement effective formative assessment. Teachers and students are missing out when a school’s assessment culture focuses on test preparation rather than best practices for classroom assessment.
School and district leaders influence the assessment culture throughout the school system. When a school or district’s goals prioritize test scores over comprehensive demonstration of student understanding, curriculum often becomes narrow. This focus on “teaching to the test” limits students’ access to rich educational experiences.
The first step to changing the evaluation culture
Because of the potential impact of assessment culture on practice, educators and leaders need to identify the cultural dimensions at work within their schools and districts. Understanding and changing a school’s assessment culture takes time because assessment cultures are built over time and are often based on assumptions about assessment that are not clearly expressed or shared by everyone in the school. takes.
One way to begin investigating assessment culture is to ask people what they think about the different types of assessment used within their schools. Talk to and gather input from a variety of people in the school community, including students, families, classroom teachers, support staff, and school leaders. Provide multiple avenues for stakeholders to share their thoughts and opinions, including anonymous surveys, structured focus groups, and open-ended discussions.
The process of examining evaluation culture through conversation can help schools and districts identify factors that support or potentially constrain the effective use of evaluation evidence. Understand assessment culture to develop strategies to change assessment-related practices (e.g., assessment selection/development, use of evidence, professional learning, etc.) to more effectively support student learning. can do.
With funding from the Walton Family Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, ISTE is partnering with assessment experts from the National Center for Improvement of Educational Assessment to explore the concept of assessment culture and refine the assessment culture continuum, with the ultimate goal being to help school districts identify key aspects of their assessment culture (i.e., make them visible) and drive changes in school-based assessment practices to further positively impact student learning.