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E d Te c h S h o w D a i l y 6 THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE NEXT-GENERATION ASSESSMENTS By Marissa Larsen, Vice President Assessment Portfolio, Scantron Corporation One of the most reliable constants in the 21st century is change. The field of assessment is no different – educational standards change, cognitive demand measurement theories shift and technology continues to evolve. Methods of measuring student knowledge must grow and transform, as well. Adapting to high-stakes summative assessments is one thing, but don't forget that your interim and formative assess- ments need to evolve, too. These assess- ments provide an invaluable opportunity to adjust instruction and support student achievement. The following are three keys to building an effective next-gener- ation assessment strategy. Build the Foundation: Quality, Rigor and Scope The key to any program is a solid founda- tion. Assessment is no different. When con- sidering your benchmark/formative testing footprint (how many tests, which tests, how often and more), ensure that your assess- ments have quality built in from the begin- ning. Individual assessments should: sup- port your overall assessment strategy; meas- ure the skills critical to your programs; and align to test blueprints that define what you want to measure, including complete cover- age of subjects and grade levels (scope) and Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels. Leverage Emerging Technologies: Item Types and Implementation Look for opportunities to leverage techno- logical advancements in assessment, such as technology-enabled and technology- enhanced items. The idea of leveraging technology to support learning is attrac- tive. Unfortunately, there's a lot of confu- sion over what readiness to support digital learning means, including an understand- ing of exactly what schools intend to sup- port, particularly around using technology. Be sure your schools are ready to sup- port emerging technologies and that you have a backup plan in case things go wrong – such as vendor options for robust item types that work online and on paper. Provide Value-Added Features and Functions: Accessories and Accommodations Sometimes, one enhancement to an assessment program can make a big dif- ference to the ease of implementation and effective, ongoing usage. For example, a strong online assessment employs smart algorithms that look for testing irregular- ities (such as a student simply selecting a, a, a, a) and notifies educators when stu- dent engagement levels may not be opti- mal for the most accurate assessment of student performance. Simple features, such as controlling how passages and items display (split screen right/left versus the passage on top and item below) or the ability to digitally mask answer options to eliminate them, make a significant difference. In addition, consider whether you need a secure test client that restricts keyboard functions and web browsing to ensure stu- dents are focusing on the test and are not using the computer for other purposes. In particular, adaptive tests should allow you to adjust each student's start- ing grade level for that subject's test (while retaining the student's designated grade level) to more closely match their initial abilities. Meeting students where they are, rather than forcing them to a particular starting line, saves time, reduces frustration and increases engage- ment – and ultimately success. Visit Scantron in room #230B. For more information, access to Scantron's frame- work and checklists to support your next- generation assessment journey, visit www.scantron.com, www.scantron.com/ nga-framework, call 858.349.9488 or email bonni.graham@scantron.com. BIG IDEAS OFFERS HOT NEW ITEMS An interview with Marc Segal, National Sales Manager, Big Ideas. ESD: What is El-Luminescence? MS: El-Luminescence, is a small, low voltage flashing panel incorporated into the product, and when activated it makes the panels come to life with flashing lights. ESD: What is the target market for this product? MS: This line of product may range from children to mid-aged adults. What is great about the El-Luminescence panel is they may be used in many different ways. Younger children may use our licensed Marvel panels to decorate their bedrooms, teenagers may use it to deck out their cloth- ing and backpacks, while young to mid- aged adults might use it for party events. ESD: Do El-Luminescence panels fit into the changing market? MS: Absolutely! As we have mentioned, this generation is all about electronics. El-Luminescence is not only a great elec- tronic product, but it's a new emerging product. Consumers now want to feel they are getting something new or differ- ent. 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