INNOVATION IN MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT

THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED IN EDUCATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES THAT SUPPORT THE EMERGENCE OF NEW TEACHING STRATEGIES, REFLECT WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROCESS OF LEARNING, AND MEASURE HIGHER LEVELS OF REASONING. STUDIES BY THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT (OTA) AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR SUPERVISION AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS STATE REFORM MOVEMENTS, IDENTIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF A VARIETY OF ASSESSMENTS. THESE FORMATS INCLUDE ORAL DISCUSSION, GROUP WORK, PORTFOLIOS, SELF ASSESSMENT, PEER GRADING, OBSERVATION, AND PERFORMANCE-BASED, AS WELL AS STANDARD WRITTEN AND MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS. TO IMPLEMENT THESE NEW IDEAS, TEACHERS REQUIRE TRACKING AND RECORDING DEVICES THAT ARE UNOBTRUSIVE AND ADAPTABLE. ALSO NEEDED ARE ASSESSMENT TASKS AND SCORING TECHNIQUES WHICH FOCUS ON HIGHER LEVELS OF THINKING. THE OTA CONGRESSIONAL REPORT DISCUSSES UTILIZING CURRENT TECHNOLOGY: "CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY COULD PUSH TESTS WELL BEYOND THE EXISTING PAPER-AND-PENCIL FORMATS. STRUCTURING AND PRESENTING COMPLEX TASKS, TRACKING STUDENT COGNITIVE PROCESSES, AND PROVIDING RAPID FEEDBACK TO LEARNERS AND TEACHERS ARE PROMISING AVENUES FOR CONTINUED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT." RESEARCHERS ARE TESTING THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNING ASSESSMENT TASKS AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE NEW PEN-BASED TECHNOLOGY, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND MEET THE NEEDS DISCUSSED BY OTA.