Assessment Cluster of the Quality Indicator Map

The goals expressed in DoDEA’s Community Strategic Plan (CSP) plus compelling educational research provide the basis for the Quality Indicator Map (QI Map).  The QI Map is divided into four main areas called clusters.  The Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Environment clusters were selected based on the relevance these areas have in implementing standards-based programs.

The Assessment Cluster reinforces that on-going assessment of student learning supports student development and uses a variety of measures.  The components of the Assessment Cluster are:

  • A-1. Assessments are used to make instructional decisions in support of the standards.
  • A-2.  Assessments are used to measure and improve standards-based student performance.

Each component (best practice) of the QI Map identifies several dimensions of the best practice which are outlined in the QI Map so you can see the layout of the elements and the continuum. Moving from left to right the quality indicators increase in complexity and rigor. Implementation is the standard level of performance that we wish to obtain for all programs and classroom. Innovation will evolve from committed and talented teachers given the resources to achieve.

The terms used to identify each level of the continuum are:  

  • Initiation  -  The beginning stages of using a practice.
  • Involvement - Limited use and or partial implementation.
  • Implementation - Fully functioning and meeting expectations.
  • Innovation - Exemplary level of use with additional creative enhancement of the practice.
Assessment Cluster Continuum
  Initiation Involvement Implementation Innovation
A-1. Assessments are used to make instructional decisions in support of the standards. The teacher plans instruction without assessing students’ current knowledge and skills. The teacher uses formal and informal assessments to determine students’ current levels of knowledge and/or skills but designs instruction with no clear connection to standards. The teacher routinely uses formal and informal assessments to determine students’ current levels of understanding, knowledge and/or skills, and to design instruction in support of the standards. The teacher and students use formal and informal assessments to determine what the students know, what they need to know, and how instruction should be differentiated for students to meet the standards.

Assessments are used for record keeping, grading, managing the classroom environment, and/or forming fixed instructional groups.

Assessments are used to form fluid or temporary instructional groups of students requiring remedial instruction of isolated knowledge and/or skills.

Assessments are used to adjust and differentiate instruction and learning activities as appropriate to ensure students’ ability to meet/exceed standards.

Based on assessment results, students are provided opportunities to work individually or in collaborative groups and on varied assignments designed to support their learning.

A-2.  Assessments are used to measure and improve standards-based student performance

The teacher provides the students with a score or grade without using specific criteria to measure their performance.

The teacher provides the students with criteria used to measure their performance after the assessment is completed.

The teacher provides the student with the criteria for demonstration of success in meeting the standard and shares examples of meeting/exceeding the criteria.

Students participate in the development of the criteria for demonstration of success in meeting/exceeding the standards.

Teacher feedback is provided in the form of a grade. The teacher provides students with limited or no opportunity to re-do their work after the assessment is given. Teacher feedback is provided based on isolated skills or knowledge and not on the criteria. The teacher provides feedback to students linked to criteria.

Students monitor and improve their performance, using feedback from teachers, peers, and self-assessment.

Students are encouraged to assist the teacher in documenting and monitoring their progress.

The assessment is seen as the conclusion to the activity. Students are encouraged to review their mistakes and re-do their work. Students are provided on-going opportunities to improve, based on the criteria. Students review tests/performances, find ways to improve, and repeat the test/performance to document mastery/understanding.
The teacher uses the same forms of assessment for all students. The teacher uses different forms of assessment only for students identified with special needs. Retesting/assessment is used to document mastery/understanding. The teacher uses multiple forms of assessment to allow all learners to demonstrate progress toward attainment of the standards. The teacher provides students with opportunities to choose how they will demonstrate their current levels of understanding, skills, and/or knowledge and opportunities to retest or repeat a performance.

Curriculum Cluster | Instruction Cluster  |  Environment Cluster   |  Return to QI Map overview

 

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