Inventive Sources of Data

Inventive data sources are examples of students' products or performances. They can include exhibits, portfolios, expositions, and videotapes of students' work (Calhoun, 1994). These data sources are useful when more in-depth information is required about student performance than can be gained from existing and conventional sources.

Student products and performances used as inventive data sources should be directly linked to the learning goals of the school. Because they are more detailed and complex than simple daily assignments, they can provide an accurate and more complete measure of what students know and how they think. These data sources require the development of criteria for analyzing the products and performances and a greater investment of teacher time in the collection, organization, and analysis phases (Calhoun, 1994).

References