Activity 11.2

Step 4 - Using the Assessing Projects Application to Create an Assessment

In this step, you examine sample assessments in the Assessing Projects application that you can adapt for your project. You can use the application to either create a new assessment or edit an existing sample assessment to match your purposes. The application allows you to select specific skills from an assessment and edit the traits and criteria.

Traits are the terms identified in the left hand column. They describe the measurable objectives of performance, behavior, or quality. Criteria describe the performance for each trait at several levels. In the self-direction rubric examples below, four levels of the Sets Goals trait might look like this:

As you review the traits and descriptors in the sample assessments, be sure to adapt them for your own purposes before applying any of them to your summative assessment.

Completing the following steps will help you as you create or adapt an assessment:

1. Perform the task yourself (for example, create a learner sample) so you can identify the traits that should be assessed.
2. Make sure the traits you identify meet your targeted goals
3. Limit the number of traits, so they can all be observed during a learner's performance or assessed from a product.
4. If possible, have colleagues and learners help you think through the important traits included in the performance or product.
5. Write criteria in terms of observable learner behaviors or product characteristics in learner-friendly language.
6. Avoid the use of ambiguous words that cloud the meaning of the criteria.
7. Consider the order of your traits and make sure the order reflects your priorities.

Using the Assessing Projects Application

Keeping the preceding steps in mind, create an assessment for your project using the Assessing Projects application. Use the Intel® Education Help Guide if you need assistance in completing any ICT skills identified below.

1. Go to Assessing Projects: www.intel.com/education/AssessingProjects

2. Review the Try It section:

   1. Click Try It.
   2. View the Demo.
   3. Go through the Tutorial if you need further instruction.
   4. From either the Demo or Tutorial section, click the Workspace tab and log on to the Teacher Workspace.
3. Create an assessment to support your project. Consider the following as you create your assessment:

• If you want to browse sample assessments for ideas, search the Library
  categories.

• If you already have the content you want to include in the assessment and do not need additional content from the Assessing Projects Library, create a new assessment from scratch.

• You can use content from an existing assessment in the library to create your own assessment. Search and save an assessment from the library into your workspace so you can edit the assessment.

• You can browse multiple assessments and pick and choose traits or items from each of the assessments to use in your own assessment.

• Edit the assessment’s content or format to conform to your needs. Make changes such as:

  • Adding or deleting columns or rows (ratings and traits)
  • Reordering traits (rows) or ratings (columns)
  • Changing rating levels from numbers to words such as Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Developing, and so forth or changing rating levels to points possible (to create a scoring guide)
  • Modifying assessment title, instructions, and descriptors to make them specific to a particular project and appropriate for the age group.

4. When you finish editing, save the assessment.

5. Export your assessment in the desired format (word processing or spreadsheet) and save it into your Project Folder.

6. Edit the exported assessment as needed.

• If you exported as a word processing document:
  • You may change the appearance of your text.
  • You may format your assessment by adding background colors, merging or splitting cells, rearranging columns or rows, resizing columns or rows, or adding or deleting columns or rows.
• If you exported as a spreadsheet:
  • You may change the appearance of your text and background.
  • You may format your assessment by rearranging columns or rows, resizing columns or rows, or adding or deleting columns or rows.

7. Delete any assessments that you will not be using.

Optional: If you have time, create any other assessments identified in your Assessment Plan. (See Extension Activity) You may find relevant examples for additional assessments as you browse the library, so be sure to add assessments of interest to your online workspace for later use.

Next: Proceed to Activity 11.3