Moving Toward Authentic Assessment--O'Malley

This chapter talks about how obviously multiple choice tests aren't going to cut it for language assessments. The author talks about the trend of moving towards "alternative assessments."

important tidbit: pg.1: Alternative Assessments consists of any method of finding out what a student knows or can do that is intended to show growth and inform instruction, and is an alternative to traditional forms of testing (ie. Multiple choice tests).

The Author goes on to say that alternative assessments are often authentic because they are based on classroom activities and real life setting (and by def are criterion referenced)

The chapter goes on to discuss the need for authentic assessments. The 2 main reasons are 1) to really assess the proficiency of a student, and 2) to be able to plan learning activities according to what the students know/don't know.

The chapter also briefly discusses the purposes of testing ELL students, and also some difficulties ELL test takers face. I have already learned a considerable amount this week because I asked the SPED director from my district to provide me with information regarding support teachers are allowed to provide to ELL Students. Even though I answered this for the other part of the assignment I will go ahead and post a list of some of the things we can do to support our students during standardized testing:

Accommodations that are permissible (According to Alaska EED)

-allowing frequent breaks
-allowing additional time
-administering the test over several days completing on or before the last day of the test window
-administering the test individually or to small groups in a separate location
-administering the test by ESL or native language teacher
-allowing students to ask for clarifications of directions
-clarifying test directions in the native language
-Reading directions in the native language
-simplifying or repeating directions in English
-providing written instructions
-writing helpful verbs from the directions on the board or a separate piece of paper in English or the native language
-repeating or re-reading embedded directions
-proctor or test administrator asking student questions about directions to check for understanding


I feel sort of gipped that no one told me these things before (or maybe I wasn't paying good attention??lol)

So even if the state never does give some "alternative assessments" for EL students, there are some steps we can take to give them a better chance of doing well.

I wonder how many times the word assessment is in this book??? I bet it's A LOT. :)