Authentic Assessment

Authentic Assessment Read the attached article, and then watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8TIEPuRwrg Compose a discussion post on assessment. Include the following: Value of play-based assessment; How teachers should use ongoing assessment throughout the day; Your "Top Three Tips" for teachers to get assessments completed , despite a busy day If you have access to Supporting Play: Birth Through Age Eight by Dorothy Justus Sluss, please use it as a reference ow should early childhood educators select an appropriate assessment tool? First, it is important to understand what a developmentally appropriate, valid, reliable, and ethical assessment looks like. Some background research can provide this information. The joint position statement “Early Childhood Curricu- lum, Assessment and Program Evaluation,” with expanded resources, from NAEYC and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAEYC & NAECS/SDE 2003), includes recommendations and indica- tors of effectiveness, frequently asked questions, and other resources that can serve as a guide in the selection of assessment tools (online at www.naeyc. org/resources/position_statements/CAPEexpand.pdf). The next step is to identify the age group for whom the assessment tool will be used (infant/toddler, preschool, etc.), the goals of the program, the purposes for which the assessment will be used, and other factors such as children’s culture, languages, and abilities or disabilities. The good news is that there is a wide variety of assessments to choose from and that a great deal of information about them is available online. There are numerous tools and systems designed to measure overall development, literacy, or social/emotional development. A few of the many assessment options that are appropriate for preschool children are listed in the accompanying chart, which also describes important elements such as the adaptability of the assessment system and the preparation required. (These data are for informational purposes only. NAEYC does not endorse any of the assessment materials presented. Assessment tools and systems are developed for specific purposes and should not be used in ways that fall outside those designated guidelines.)