What is
Differentiated Assessment?
Differentiated Assessment is
best described as selecting tools and strategies that will maximize success for every individual (Growing Success, 2010). This type of
assessment supports the learning process by helping teachers identify and
address student strengths and needs (Alberta Education, 2015). It is ongoing and
responsive, changing over the course of a unit depending on the student’s
growth and development (Alberta Education, 2015).
Making a Connection!
Differentiated assessment informs differentiated instruction
Differentiated assessment provides information about each student's readiness, strengths and needs in relation to particular outcomes or activities. This information shapes your planning (Chapman & King, 2012).
Differentiated instruction leads to differentiated assessment
In a differentiated classroom, students work towards learning outcomes at different paces and in different ways. As a result, you need assessment tools and strategies that accommodate diversity while still usefully measuring learning outcomes (Chapman & King, 2012).
(Alberta Education, 2015)
The Question is...How Can we Move Toward Differentiated Assessment?
Although differentiated assessment is a unique form of assessment, it is obvious that student's needs cannot always be met in the same way. Successfully meeting students needs
involves understanding each student and guiding them with the proper assessment
tools and strategies. The goal is not to have an individualized assessment plan
for each student, but to have a range of assessment plans to accommodate for
all the student needs (Alberta Education, 2015). Below I will offer some ways that a teacher can begin implementing differentiated assessment in their classroom!
Supporting students with learning difficulties: A student with a learning disability has a goal in his/his
individualized program plan (IPP) that points towards the use of particular
assessment tools and strategies. A teacher could use this assessment plan for
students who have similar learning needs even though they have not diagnosed
with a learning disability.
Rethinking grading practices: A teacher that uses a
one-size-fits-all approach needs to rethink their grading and reporting
practice. It would be more beneficial to redesign his/her grading and reporting
practices to allow for some student choice to provide them with the
opportunity to better their performance.
Facilitating metacognition: Provide students with the opportunity to develop the ability to diagnose
their own learning needs and to assess their progress towards learning goals.
It would be beneficial to teach goal setting, choice, self-assessment and
reflection.
Benefits of Differentiated Assessment
(Chapman & King, 2012)
Let's Look at My Personal Experience...
In my third
year placement the teacher used adjusting questions as a differentiated
assessment strategy. When the students were in a large discussion group, the
teacher was directing the higher level questions to the appropriate students
and asked more suitable questions for those students with greater needs. This
allowed students to answer important questions that required them to think
based on their specific readiness level. In addition to this, the teacher
assigned specific questions to groups based on their level. I thought this was
an appropriate example of differentiated assessment because it gave the students the
best opportunity to demonstrate their learning.
We All Love Videos!
I will leave you with two videos to recap and summarize what I discussed in this blog post. Thanks for reading! Use differentiated assessment in your classroom so you can see all your students succeed! Remember....ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcpzRJMUiX0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPl8OSCX_f8
References
Alberta Education. (2015). Differentiated assessment. Making a Difference. Retrieved from https://education.alberta.ca/media/1233985/7_ch4%20differentiated.pdf
Chapman, C., & King, R. (2012). Differentiated assessment strategies. One Tool Doesn't Fit All. California, Thousand Island: A SAGE Company.
Growing Success. (2010). Resources for particular policy and program areas. Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools. Retrieved from Sakai.
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