INTASC Standard #8

Assessment of Student Learning

The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.

[Headings for INTASC standards are taken from - 
Campbell, D.M. et al.  (1997).  How to develop a professional portfolio:  A manual for teachers.   Boston: Allyn and Bacon.]

During    the last several class meetings of MUSED351 and MUSED352, we talked about assessment    strategies. Mr. Eppink talked to   us about several strategies we can use to assess the students and provide    concrete evidence of their learning throughout the semester to the   administrators and parents. He   showed and talked to us about a variety of assessment tools that he has used   and found very helpful in his classroom. Daily observations and notes were one that he mention that   I feel can be very useful. Dr.   Burns even talked about making notes on a daily seating chart about each   student and how they did that particular day. By keeping these notes, they both had things to go back   and review to determine a letter grade at the end of the semester other than   just attendance. I was also assessed during this class at various times. In a teaching to a second grade class, the cooperating   teacher  evaluated how I did; unfortunately, she did not provide much   feedback. The competency tests I   was required to take also was an assessment and provided feedback to me as   well as all of the graded work throughout the class.  During my curriculum project in MUSED352, we were asked to include an assessment section in the project.  My assessment section just included idea about how I was going to not only assess my students but myself througout the unit.  Also in MUSED 352 and in conjunction with EDSEC380 and EDJHM385, I chose to update my professional growth plan.  I realized this semester how much I have grown not only in this past 18 weeks but over the course of the past 4 years.
    During Choral Literature, we were evaluated on all of our projects and presentations throughout the semester.  During our unit plan, however, we had to create assessment strategies that  we would use in our class to determine whether or not our students were learning the unit's material.  I think it is very important, even in a choir, to make sure that there is something more concrete than just attendance records and overall impression of a student to base their grades on.  Daily observations that are logged, singing competency tests, and knowledge quizzes are just a couple of the way I intend to assess my students.

Evaluating and assessing students is an ongoing, never ending process. It is extremely important that we constantly assess out students’ growth and development, give feedback, and make appropriate changes. My observations of White River Youth Choir and Southside High School are examples of observation assessments I have completed. As teachers it is pertinent that we give equal amounts of positive feedback and constructive comments. Students need this balance if you expect them to continue to work for you.

I was able to work in a one on one setting with a student, as a project for vocal technique class. We had to assess an individual student in several areas. After we did this assessment, we were to choose literature that we would assign to them to help them concentrate on areas that needed help developing.

There are a number of ways a teacher can evaluate and assess how their students are doing. And evaluation form similar to an adjudicator’s sheet can be used during a singing test to assess a grade. I developed an evaluation form that includes a posture checklist followed by a rubric. This could be used for individual singing test as well as ensemble singing tests. Using a rubric similar to this can justify how a grade for not only a singing test, but also choir is determined and assigned.

Other ways to assess students are tests and papers. Performance assessments are good ways to determine how students fell they are doing in the class. Allow the students to watch themselves on tape and comment on the things they notice. Not only are we asking them to evaluate how they are doing but how others are doing as well.

It is very important that we test and evaluate our students to test their knowledge. This is a good way to determine if they understand the information, if you are conveying the information adequately, and if the lessons are an appropriate level of difficulty. If you never test your students, you will never know where you need to adjust or change your lessons.