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dodea glossary of terms

Alignment The process of linking content and performance standards to assessment, instruction and learning in classrooms.
Assessment The process of acquiring qualitative or quantitative information.
Classroom assessment An assessment developed, administered, and scored by a teacher or set of teachers with the purpose of evaluating individual or classroom student performance on a topic.
Commentary Comments that reflect how the standards are demonstrated in student's work.
Content standards Expectations of what students should know and be able to do in particular subjects and grade levels.
Criteria Guidelines, rules, characteristics or dimensions that are used to judge the quality of student performance.
Curriculum A body of material that defines the content to be taught and the methods to be used.
Evaluation Judgment regarding the quality, value, or worth of a response, product, or performance based on established criteria and usually based on multiple sources of information.
Examples of student work Examples of student work that illustrates standard-setting performances.
Performance assessment An assessment that requires students to construct a response, create a product, or perform a demonstration.
Performance standards A definition of what students must know and be able to do, and a description of the quality of student work that meets the standards.
Performance task An authentic, meaningful task that requires the students to synthesize knowledge and skills learned and apply them to construct a response, create a product and/or performance that demonstrates understanding.
Rubric A set of scoring guidelines for assessing student work.
Scope The content that is to be covered.
Sequence The sequential order in which the content is presented and studied.
Skills The ability of students to use knowledge effectively and readily in performance, the ability to transform knowledge into action.
Standards Statements of specific expectations.
Standards-based assessment An assessment in which the criteria are taken directly from the standards.
Standards-based curriculum A curriculum designed to produce student understanding and work that demonstrates achievement of the standards.
Standards-based instruction Instructional practices designed to help every student achieve the standards.
Strands/Themes Headings that organize the content or performance standards.
Understanding Insight into key ideas, as reflected in thoughtful and effective use of knowledge and skills in varied situations.
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Contact Information
DoDEA Education Web Author
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 588-3116

Last Reviewed June 7, 2004