It's time to move our assessment practices from the 1950s to the century we're living in. It's time to invest in our teachers and local school leaders instead of in more tests. It's time to help all students understand how to unleash their strengths and gain a sense of themselves as learners capable of choosing their own paths to success. In The Perfect Assessment System, Rick Stiggins calls for the ground-up redevelopment of assessment in U.S. education. Speaking from more than 40 years of experience in the field—and speaking for all learners who hope to succeed, the teachers who want them to succeed, and the local school leaders whose aspirations for success have been thwarted by assessment traditions—Stiggins maps out the adjustments in practice and culture necessary to generate both accurate accountability data and the specific evidence of individual mastery that will support sound instructional decision making and better learning in the classroom. He addresses Assessment purpose—how (and why) to clarify the reason for every assessment and the users it will serve. Learning targets to be assessed—how to make sure we focus on the right competencies and set consistent definitions of success. Assessment quality—how to ensure every assessment, at every level, is an excellent one. Communication of assessment results—how to share information in ways that best support diverse purposes. Assessment impact—how to link assessment to truly productive, universal student motivation. We have not yet begun to explore assessment's true potential to enhance both school quality and student well-being. Stiggins kicks off this critical conversation and charts a course for a new system that promises much higher levels of student success at a fraction of our current testing costs. The door is open for assessment reform; here is a bold plan for getting it right.

The right kinds of tests, correctly applied, can help every teacher become a better teacher. But unless you know the nuts and bolts of effective test design and application, you may be collecting the wrong data; misinterpreting data; and drawing off-base conclusions about what students know and can do, what to teach next, and how effective your instruction has been. In Test Better, Teach Better, assessment expert W. James Popham explores the links between assessment and instruction and provides a jargon-free look at classroom and large-scale test construction, interpretation, and application. Featuring sample items, testing tips, and recommended resources, this "crash course" in instructionally focused assessment includes * The four types of instructional decisions that testing will illuminate. * What you really need to know about measurement concepts like validity, reliability, and bias. * The advantages and disadvantages of various test formats and experience-based rules for creating great items in each. * The benefits of assessing student affect and guidelines for doing it in your own classroom. In addition, Popham offers practical advice for dealing with today's myriad testing targets and explains how standards-based achievement tests currently don't (but could) provide both accountability evidence and useful instructional information. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.

Learn everything you need to know to implement an integrated system of assessment and grading. The author details the specific benefits of formative assessment and explains how to design and interpret three different types of formative assessments, how to track student progress, and how to assign meaningful grades. Detailed examples bring each concept to life, and chapter exercises reinforce the content.

Stiggins offers a bold plan for reforming assessment practice and culture to generate accurate accountability data, improve classroom instruction, and support student learning and well-being.

Robert J. Marzano distills 35 years of research to bring you expert advice on the best practices for assessing and grading the work done by today's students.

Check for Understanding: 65 Classroom-Ready Tactics Formative Assessment Made Easy! In Visible Learning, John Hattie describes a powerful strategy to enhance student learning-formative assessment (effect size .90). Implemented with fidelity, the result is assessment-capable learners, a pivotal skill for post-secondary success. "Are my students learning?" Join us in reimagining formative assessment-a fluid, robust, daily practice. Step-by-Step Activation Guide 65 Tactics to Check for Understanding Live-Action Classroom Videos for Each Tactic THE STORY OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT Part I - Formatives: What they are and what they are not Part II - Why formative assessment matters Part III - Best practice formative assessment Part IV - Leveraging formative data to enhance teaching and learning 65 CLASSROOM-READY TACTICS Contributing authors share tactics to check for understanding. Includes user-friendly instructions and video clips to model implementation at any grade level, any content area.

Build a balanced assessment system and support ESSA requirements! The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) increases assessment flexibility and responsibilities for states and districts, and this comprehensive guide helps leaders meet and succeed that challenge. Authors Chappuis, Commodore and Stiggins have helped thousands of teachers, principals and other educational leaders in becoming assessment-literate and developing assessment systems built on quality assessment. Readers will learn how to: Develop balance in an assessment system by combining formative and summative approaches, providing insight on students’ progress Strengthen classroom-based assessment and involve students in self-assessment