Colorado Schools: Participate in a McREL research study on Classroom Assessment for Student Learning (CASL)
Goals/Objectives
McREL is seeking Colorado school districts to participate in a study of Rick Stiggins' Classroom Assessment for Student Learning (CASL) and its effects on classroom assessment practices, student motivation, and student achievement. This study on classroom assessment practices and student achievement offers districts and teachers an opportunity to participate, free of charge, in a unique professional development program as well as the chance to contribute to research on how quality assessment practices can support student success.We are asking interested Colorado districts to form school-level learning teams of 4th and 5th grade mathematics teachers; up to six teachers per school can participate. In order to determine if CASL is effective in raising student achievement, schools will be randomly assigned to either train with the CASL program or to continue with their regular professional development.
Description
The CASL program focuses on teaching educators how to accurately and efficiently assess different kinds of learning and involve students in the assessment process. Specifically, CASL is designed to help teachers
Translate standards into classroom learning targets
Develop and use quality assessments in the classroom
Integrate assessment into instruction to maximize learning
Save time and energy by assessing far more efficiently
Communicate effectively with students and parents about student achievement
Motivate students by making them responsible partners in the assessment process
McREL will make every effort to minimize the impact and maximize the benefits of participation. Participation will not take time away from instruction and should add value to student and teacher work by helping to integrate assessment with instruction and save teachers' time.Teachers will receive CASL materials, including the book, Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing it Right-Using it Well, which is supplemented by a CD-ROM and several videos on DVD. Also included are forms and guidelines for planning, scheduling, and creating classroom assessments. The materials are designed for teacher "learning teams" of 3-6 teachers who meet regularly to discuss the readings and their efforts to implement the program in their classrooms.For more information on CASL, please visit the ATI website at http://assessmentinst.com/.
Target Audience
We will be working with districts from across the state of Colorado to recruit approximately 60 school-level teams of 4th-5th grade teachers.
For a more detailed description of the study, click here.
