Introduction

This course is designed to further develop the attitudes, knowledge, and conceptual and technical skills required by teachers to help them identify the educational goals of students and to select or design and implement relevant, meaningful, and beneficial instructional strategies for effective learning by students with special needs. The focus of this course will therefore be on assessment for instructional programming. The course will outline procedures for designing or selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting a variety of informal assessment measures for use in schools. A range of informal assessment measures in the academic, social and behavioural skills areas will form the core of the content to be covered. The presentation of assessment information in an acceptable format that is responsive to the needs of parents and teachers will also be addressed.

The course is organized into four major sections. Each section has a number of chapters that highlight new, sometimes controversial, but always relevant views or practices regarding this most dynamic of educational fields. Each section will include a list of objectives that will help you to focus your readings and discussions, as well as clarify tasks that will help you combine theory and practice.

This computer-based instruction course is a self-supporting program that provides instruction, structured practice, and evaluation all on your home or school computer. Technical support information can be found, in the Help section of your course.

Online or CD-Rom Course Materials
Title: Educational Assessment: Assessing Student Learning in the Classroom

Author: Dr. A.N. (Bob) Pillay

Publisher: Virtual Education Software, inc. 2005, Revised 2010

Instructor: Dr. A.N. (Bob) Pillay

Required Textbook

Nitko, A.J., & Brookhart, S.M. (2010). Educational Assessment of Students (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Academic Integrity Statement

The structure and format of most distance-learning courses presume a high level of personal and academic integrity in completion and submission of coursework. Individuals enrolled in a distance-learning course are expected to adhere to the following standards of academic conduct.

Academic Work

Academic work submitted by the individual (such as papers, assignments, reports, tests) shall be the student’s own work or appropriately attributed, in part or in whole, to its correct source. Submission of commercially prepared (or group prepared) materials as if they are one’s own work is unacceptable.

Aiding Honesty in Others

The individual will encourage honesty in others by refraining from providing materials or information to another person with knowledge that these materials or information will be used improperly.

Violations of these academic standards will result in the assignment of a failing grade and subsequent loss of credit for the course.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:

· Discuss the need for authentic educational assessment in the light of current expectations of schools.

· Develop a comprehensive assessment plan to determine a student’s educational needs. The plan will take into account classroom variables, multiple sources of information, beneficial educational outcomes, and research-based interventions.

· Administer, score, and interpret a teacher-designed measure of academic achievement in reading, language, and math.

· Describe any past or current governmental initiatives that either impact educational assessment or define it, and explain the rationale for the initiatives.

· Describe the major steps in the assessment process.

· Outline the procedure for processing referrals for assessment.

· Select and discuss appropriate informal assessment measures to address literacy, numeracy, or social and behavioral aspects of the school curriculum.

· Demonstrate by discussion or writing the major components for completing a report to a parent/school.

· Discuss how to make educational or behavioral recommendations based on assessment data and effectively communicate the results to teachers and parents.

Course Description

This course will cover many areas and topics on educational assessment. The following is an outline of the topics that will be discussed in each chapter of the course.

Chapter 1: Overview & the Nature of Assessment

Course Overview

Assessment Rationale

Introduction to the Nature of Assessment

Assessment for a New Age

The Changing Landscape

The Need for a New Vision

Emerging Trends in Assessment

The Challenge for all Teachers

Writing Exercise: The Leaders’ Forum

Introduction to the Nature of Assessment

Definition of Assessment

Purposes of Assessment

Educational Assessment Principles

Some Measurement Concepts

The Classroom Teacher: An Observation Specialist

Teacher Assessment Competencies

Steps in Assessment Process

Chapter 2: Types of Assessment

Introduction

Assessment Models

Formal Assessment

Informal Assessment

Discrepancy Analysis

Performance Assessment

Portfolio Assessment

Rubric

Clinical Judgment

Chapter 3: Methods of Assessment & Linking to Instruction

Introduction

Observation

Task/Error Analysis

Checklists

Linking Assessment to Instruction

Individualized Education Programs

Chapter 4: Putting it all Together &Writing an Assessment Report

Introduction

Informal Assessments

Assumptions

Writing an Assessment Report

Some of the sections in a chapter may pose a question for response. As a student, you should address these questions and make notes to yourself about your responses. Some of these questions may be the basis for examination questions or Critical Thinking Questions. While you are encouraged to write brief notes or responses to these course questions, you are not required to submit your written responses for assessment. These questions are designed to help you gather your thoughts concerning the topic and to enable you to present a cogent, cohesive discussion of the topic. What you write will become your notes for a study guide. It is suggested that you visit the questions again at the end of the program to see whether further reading and skill development have reaffirmed, changed, or challenged your original thoughts.

Student Expectations

As a student, you will be expected to:

· Complete all information sections covering Education Assessment, showing a competent understanding of the material presented.

· Complete all exams covering Education Assessment, showing a competent understanding of the material presented.

· Complete a review of any section on which your examination score was below 70%.

· Retake any examination, after completing an information review, to increase that final examination score to a minimum of 70% (maximum of three attempts).

· Complete all course journal article and essay writing assignments with the minimum word count shown for each writing assignment.

· Complete a final case study paper.

· Complete textbook reading assignment and subsequent exam.

· Complete a course evaluation form at the end of the course.

Examinations

At the end of each chapter, you will be expected to complete an examination designed to assess your knowledge. You will also be required to complete an examination to evaluate your comprehension of the required textbook reading assignment. You may take these exams a total of three times. Your last score will save, not the highest score. After your third attempt, each examination will lock and not allow further access. The average from your chapter exam scores and textbook exam score will be printed on your certificate. However, this is not your final grade since your required writing assignments have not been reviewed. Exceptionally written or poorly written required writing assignments, or violation of the academic integrity policy in the course syllabus, will affect your grade. As this is a self-paced computerized instruction program, you may review course information as often as necessary. You will not be able to exit any examinations until you have answered all questions. If you try to exit the exam section before you complete all questions, your information will be lost. You are expected to complete the entire exam in one sitting.

Writing Assignments

This course has three required writing components.

To save your Critical THinking Questions & journal article reviews:

When you select the question or article you wish to write on, simple text or text edit will

automatically be launched. When you are finished, simply click SAVE.

You must SAVE before you write another essay or move on to another part of the course.

1) Essay Requirement: Critical Thinking Questions

There is a Critical Thinking Question for each chapter. You will do research on the question and write a brief essay relating it to the course content (and your personal experiences when possible). To view the questions, click on REQUIRED ESSAY and choose the Critical Thinking Question that you would like to complete; this will bring up a screen where you may enter your essay. You must write a minimum of 500 words per essay.

You must SAVE before you write another essay or move on to another part of the course.

2) Essay Requirement: Journal Articles

This task requires you to write a review of three journal articles of your choice on a topic related to this course. You may choose your topic by entering the Key Words (click on the Key Words button) into a search engine of your choice (Google, Dogpile, Yahoo, etc.). Choose three relevant articles and write a 200-word review of each. You may also access the ERIC system and choose a related topic from a journal listed in that system. Or you can access www.scholar.google.com or www.findarticles.com .Write a critical summary of the information given in each article, explaining how the information relates to, supports, or refutes information given in this course. Conclude your paper with your thoughts and impressions. (200 words per journal article minimum, 400 words maximum.) Be sure to provide the journal name, volume, date, and any other critical information to allow the instructor to access and review that article.

To write your essays, click on REQUIRED ESSAY and choose the Journal Article that you would like to complete; this will bring up a screen where you can write your review. When you are ready to stop, click SAVE. You may go back at any point to edit your essays. For more information on the features of this assignment, please consult the HELP menu.

You must SAVE before you write another essay or move on to another part of the course.

3) Essay Requirement: Final Case Study Paper - this assignment is completed outside of the course program and should be emailed to: grades@virtualeduc.com

You are required to complete a final case study paper. Please refer to the course addendum, which will provide you with the specific requirements for this final case study paper.

Textbook Reading Assignment & Exam

This course has one textbook reading assignment and subsequent exam that you will be required to complete.

You are required to read one textbook (please refer to course addendum for title and author of the book you are required to read) and then you will take a 25-question examination to assess your comprehension of the material covered in the book. You may take this exam a total of three times. Your last score will save, not the highest score. After your third attempt, each examination will lock and not allow further access. To take the exam for this textbook reading assignment, click on EXAMS and then on TEXTBOOK EXAM. You must score a minimum of 70% on this exam to pass this course.

Instructor Description

Dr. Bob Pillay is a doctoral-level instructor who has been teaching in the field of Special Education for the past 30 years. Dr. Pillay has received numerous national and international awards for his research in the field. He has headed boards and committees in more than five countries to develop and strengthen special services for Australia, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Pillay has extensive knowledge of special education issues in the USA due to his doctoral studies at the University of Louisville. He is currently a Senior Fellow in Special Education at the University of Melbourne.

Contacting the Instructor

You may contact the instructor by emailing bobp@virtualeduc.com or by calling (509) 891-7219, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST. Phone messages will be answered within 24 hours. Phone conferences will be limited to ten minutes per student, per day, given that this is a self-paced instructional program. Please do not contact the instructor about technical problems, course glitches or other issues that involve the operation of the course.

Technical Questions

If you have questions or problems related to the operation of this course, please try everything twice. If the problem persists please check our support pages for FAQs and known issues at www.virtualeduc.com and also the Help section of your course.

If you need personal assistance then email support@virtualeduc.com or call (509) 891-7219. When contacting technical support, please know your course version number (it is located at the bottom left side of the Welcome Screen) and your operating system, and be seated in front of the computer at the time of your call.

Minimum Computer Requirements

Please refer to VESi’s website: www.virtualeduc.com or contact VESi if you have further questions about the compatibility of your operating system.

Refer to the addendum regarding Grading Criteria, Course Completion Information, Items to be Submitted, and how to submit your completed information.

Bibliography (suggested reading)

Alper, S., Ryndak, D. L., & Schloss, C. N. (2001). Alternative assessment of students with disabilities in inclusive settings. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Ashlock, R. B. (1990). Error patterns in computation. (4th ed.). Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.

Bracey, G. W. (2000). Thinking about tests and testing: A short primer in assessment literacy. Washington, D.C.: American Youth Policy Forum.

Brady, L., Kennedy, K., & Marsh, C. (2003). Curriculum and assessment. Sydney: Pearson.

Bryant, D. P., Smith,D. D., & Bryant, B. R. (2008). Teaching students with special needs in inclusive classrooms. Boston, MA: Merrill.

Cohen, L. C., & Spencimer, L. G. (2007). Assessment of children and youth with special needs. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

LeGrange, L., & Reddy, C. (2000). Continuous assessment. Kenwyn: Juta & Company,.

Richek, M. A., Caldwell, J. S., Jennings, J. J., & Lerner, J. (2002). Reading problems. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

McLoughlin, J.A., & Lewis, R. B. (2008). Assessing students with special needs (7th ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall,

Nitko, A.J., & Brookhart, S.M. (2007). Educational assessment of students (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Olson, L.L., & Platt, J.C. (2004). Teaching students and adolescents with special needs (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Merrill/Prentice Hall.

Overton, T. (2009). Assessing learners with special needs: An applied approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Salvia, J., Ysseldyke, J. E., & Bolt, S. (2007). Assessment in special and inclusive education (10th ed.) .Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Sieborger, R., & Macintosh, H. (2002). Transforming assessment. Lansdowne: Juta.

Vaughn, S., Bos, C. S., & Schumm, J. S. (2007). Teaching students who are exceptional diverse and at-risk students. Boston: Pearson Education.

Venn, J.J. (2007). Assessing students with special needs (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Journals:
Educational Leadership
Exceptional Children
Exceptional Children Quarterly
Exceptional Parent
Focus on Exceptional Children
Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis
Journal of Learning Disabilities
Journal of Reading
Journal of Special Education
Learning Disabilities Quarterly
Learning Disabilities Research and Practice
Reading Research Quarterly
The Reading Teacher
Remedial and Special Education
Teaching Exceptional Children

Web Sites:
http://www.natd.org/assessmentandevalresources.htm
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/as0cont.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/testing/
http://pareonline.net/
http://home.gwu.edu/~kkid/testing.html
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
http://www.psychoeducational.com/
http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v3n6.html
http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/ontass

Course content is updated every three years. Due to this update timeline, some URL links may no longer be active or may have changed. Please type the title of the organization into the command line of any Internet browser search window and you will be able to find whether the URL link is still active or any new link to the corresponding organization's web home page.

Updated 4/15/11 JN

Introduction

Online or CD-Rom Course Materials Title: Educational Assessment: Assessing Student Learning in the Classroom

Academic Integrity Statement

The structure and format of most distance-learning courses presume a high level of personal and academic integrity in completion and submission of coursework. Individuals enrolled in a distance-learning course are expected to adhere to the following standards of academic conduct.

Course Objectives

Examinations

Contacting the Instructor

Technical Questions

Online or CD-Rom Course Materials
Title: Educational Assessment: Assessing Student Learning in the Classroom