Using Student Performance Data to Strengthen Assessment and Instruction - Report Example

Using Performance Data to Strengthen Assessment and Instruction Section Using Assessment to Drive Instruction Assessment is important to ensure that they are being guided through the correct methods to achieve extreme success and to gain overall knowledge. The assessment of schools and colleges must be more students centric while assessing the environment of the classroom. Performance of students could be measured only through their attitude in the class and how they have been following their teachers in their coursework. In this regard, it can be noted that there are several assessment criteria to measure the performances of students. The ‘comprehensive assessment system’ helps in improving a broader educational effort for the purpose of goal oriented learning outcomes. To develop the standard of education a Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (CIA) system also helps in developing the knowledge and skills that are expected from students to ensure a better future. Integrating formative, interim as well as classroom assessment helps in aligning these intended learning outcomes in an effective manner. The collected data helps in developing a proper evidence of the facts and helps in eliminating barriers to develop the individual students. There have been several methods of assessment of students in order to develop their knowledge base. These assessments help in developing the formative approach and helps in assessing a student’s progress plan along with developing a future plan for students (Crisp et al., 2005). The two methods that have been used in the process of assessments have been observed to be the traditional methods of assessment as well as the walk through mode of assessment. These methods help in developing the assessment of students as well as monitoring their growth and development. These modes of assessment are usually used to enhance proper monitoring of students and measuring their progress in acquiring their knowledge (Ryan, 2010). These assessments also help in enhancing student’s proficiency and helps in developing their growth status along with their standards of accomplishment. The methods also help in assessing the approach of the teachers towards teaching and creating a better report towards assessing time spend on a particular topic. The synchronization between activity and reading are also analyzed so that proper process of training could be developed and enhanced. The traditional approach helps in analyzing different process used by the teachers to impart knowledge and the way the students accepts the same. This even helps in developing the process that has been used by the teachers to assist their students’ progress in future. Moreover, close monitoring of students also helps in analyzing their progress and developing a better approach towards their knowledge sharing. Close monitoring of students also helps in assessing their progress and enhancing their process of achieving excellence (Tweed, 2007). The traditional approach that was followed by Rhonda Wolter was analyzed to be closely monitoring each students and their participations in daily activities conducted during the class. The observer used to keep a note of the facts and observe how the teacher spent time on each subject and also addressed the development as and when required. For Example: The teacher took up activities like partner reading that would help in increasing the number of participations in the activity and enhance the amount of concentration of students. On the other hand, the walk through method helps in analyzing the overall environment of students and helps in developing a better understanding about the processes to enhance the knowledge of students. Moreover, the ‘walk through’ method even seeks participation from parents and also proper analysis of their perception about the school and teaching processes as stated by Nancy Gregory. By the walk through process the integrated approach in developing the knowledge base of the students could be assured. Correspondingly, by analyzing the environment of colleges, classrooms and halls also helps in developing an understanding towards the culture and integrate a better approach to meet the needs of students. The assessment of the environment helps in enhancing and developing student’s progression by aligning goals with objectives. The ‘walk through’ even helps in random examining of the environment of schools and colleges and also helps in defining the method of collection of raw data. This aspect will help in assessing the data collected from the responses of students and help in developing a better approach in redesigning and enhancing the system of imparting knowledge. Besides visiting the classes and assessing the environment prevalent in the class, the walk through method helps in assessing the overall environment of institutions. The meetings with the teachers and other curriculum planners help in developing the system and enhance the quality of knowledge and growth of students (ETS, 2014). For example: Survey and feedbacks are taken into consideration to access the overall environment with efficiency. Section 2: District Practices Standards-Based Teaching and Learning This method is based on individualizing learning process and helps in developing a better approach towards the enhancement of learning process. The standard based grades helps in identifying the level of merits of the students and their strength along with weaknesses. The development of a student centered approach is the foremost requirement for the growth of students. Moreover, each student needs to be individually analyzed towards developing tailor-made models to catalyst the performance of students. From the analysis of the Bethel School District it could be stated that students projected a better growth after integrating the process of oral reading program as a part of their daily activity. The district develops an individual assessment of each and every student separately focus on their growth and progress as well as enhance their system of learning. Moreover, the development of partner based reading also assists in integrating the reading process and develops an effective system of learning. The teachers in the school pay keen interest in integrating learning and activities to pace up the process among students. Additionally, the teachers take care of the students individually meeting their individual requirements of learning. The same could be justified from the fact that the students showed a positive progress towards the development of their learning and knowledge acquiring process. The progressive development of the school reflected that the schools exceeded the standard of race gap within the state. Moreover, 70% of students developed a positive growth in the 8th grade i.e. middle school after the reading process was integrated into the system. Furthermore, the district even showed a steep development in the year 2010-2011 than 2002-03. This positive growth could only be possible by the integration the reading process as a part of the activity. Correspondingly, students showed an impressive growth in the development of the reading processes towards the end of the curriculum. This positive growth could only be attained by the development of the process of individual training and integrating personal development (Miller, 2013). The district supports standard based teaching as they are inclined towards individual development of each student. The different grading systems were used to individually assess the student’s development. Moreover, the district even integrated the development of students by helping them take more participation in the curriculum as well as develop a better approach towards learning. A local adopted curriculum program and performance appraisal scheme helps in initiating critical thinking and developing a better approach towards learning (Seitsinger, 2012; Milanowski et al., 2004). For Example: Teacher at the Bethel School District picked up random students to participate in the curriculum. Finally, this helped in developing a better approach towards imparting education as well as development of individual students. Using Student Performance Data The student performance data shows that the integrated reading process that has been developed by the schools was quite successful in enhancing individual performances. Students have enhanced overall performances and developed their participative skills. Moreover, by communicating intensively with the students the individual problems could be easily rectified and supported to enhance the system of imparting knowledge. For example the integrated system of education helped in developing students in the eighth grade. The reading process helped in improving individual students and finally led to the development of the overall performance. This could be observed from the analysis of the data that reflected the fact that the benchmark of performances of students has gone up. Furthermore, the students at different grades were performing far above the required grade and marked standards. For Example: ‘Grade one’ oral reading fluency had developed from the middle to the highest benchmark time and showed a positive development of students. Describing the Relationship The relationship between assessment, data and instruction are observed to be closely linked. The complete system is interlinked and helps in developing a better perspective about the learning process. This proper collection of data helps in framing an effective instruction that would align students’ performance with the curriculum. Furthermore, by aligning the instructions with the curriculum proper assessment of students could be ensured. Hence, it can be concluded that there is a direct relationship between assessment, data and instruction as it helps the students in progressing in future (Moler, 2008). Being a CIA leader, I would like to analyze and develop a better approach towards collecting the data and assess the same. Furthermore, besides analyzing students, I would develop the understanding within me to provide proper personal development of each student. Moreover, I would also analyze the curriculum and align the same with the individual requirement of the students and enhance complete system of knowledge processing and teaching. Correspondingly, I would also align the instruction with the curriculum so that proper personal development could be implemented. By revising the curriculum as and when required I would be able to develop and maintain the relationship among assessment, instruction and data for greater student efficiency. References Crisp, P., Lister, P. G., & Dutton, K. (2005). Integrated assessment. Evaluation of an Innovative Method of Assessment: Critical Incident Analysis, 1-54. ETS. (2014). Elementary education: Curriculum, Instruction and assessment. Retrieved from http://www.ets.org/s/praxis/pdf/5011.pdf Milanowski, A. T., Kimball, S. M., & White, B. (2004). The relationship between standards-based teacher evaluation scores and student achievement: replication and extensions at three sites. Wisconsin Center for Education Research, 1-32. Miller, J. J. (2013). A better grading system: standards-based, student-centered assessment. English Journal 103(1), 111–118. Moler, M. C. (2008). The relationship between the curriculum, instruction, and assessment provided by Wyoming high school mathematics teachers and the performance of Wyoming 11th grade students on the adequate yearly progress of Wyoming schools. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=cehsdiss Ryan, J. M. (2009). Envisioning a state educational system: Improving learning through a comprehensive assessment system. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1-31. Seitsinger, A. M. (2012). Service-learning and standards-based instruction in middle schools. The Journal of Educational Research, 99(1), 19-30. Tweed, A. (2007). Aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment to standards. Program Improvement Workshop, 1-30. Read More