Performance Assessment Sampler: A Workbook

Performance assessment, constructed-response, and authentic assessment are terms sweeping through educational testing and reform. Much is in development, in prototype, and in early use. Every day an educator or testing official somewhere is likely being told to get on top of what is being done in this area and get started in their state, district, or school. With the recent spurt in development, that isn't easy to do quickly.

Educational Testing Service's (1993) Sampler is designed for the person who needs to get a handle on these new assessment efforts. Excerpts are reproduced that give at least an acquaintance with a project, and information on where to go to learn more. Examples of assessments are given for several different school subjects and at several different grade levels. This is by no means an exhaustive inventory of efforts at alternative assessment going on in the United States, or at Educational Testing Service. Rather, it is a sampler that attempts to represent a broad range of efforts in this area.

Two helpful examples include:

Kentucky Department of Education Performance Level Guides for Open-Response Common Items, Grade 8 Science and Social Studies
NAEP's 1990 Writing Portfolio Study.

References

Source: Policy Information Center, Educational Testing Service. (1993). Introducing the Performance Assessment Sampler. In Performance Assessment Sampler: A Workbook. Princeton, NJ: Author.