Common+Assessment

Below is information concerning the common assessment effort for the 2009-2010 school year.

Reasons for School Year Goal of Implementing Common Assessments 1. To facilitate professional discussions regarding learning goals. 2. To ensure that our students learn what the curriculum covers. 3. To identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in our teaching. 4. To focus on continual improvement. 5. Meet goals of North Central Association in developing and using internal data to drive instructional decisions.

1. Begin with the written curriculum for each course. Together with all teachers who teach said course and identify the major points or themes of the course. 2. Taking these identified eight to ten main themes compose assessment items for each theme. The number of items needed will vary due to the nature of the course and the complexity of each item. In general religion / history / non applied sciences should compose a minimum of thirty items each. Applied fields that focus on problem solving etc have the freedom to create fewer assessment items. 3. Once completed and the normal rotation has begun departments will give the common assessments in unison. The assessment should be given within the first two weeks and then again at the end of the semester. Some departments may choose to give the assessment as part of the final or in another way at the end of the semester. Departments have the freedom to giving credit or no credit for the post assessment.
 * Guiding Principles for composing Common Assessments**

For the initial implementation year scoring data will be new. There is not yet enough accumulated data to determine what a percentage score means in terms of learning on the part of students. Data should be collected and sorted by teacher for each item on the assessment. See linked sample from an English class. All teachers of said subject will create a similar form for their individual classes. The department head will then compile the data across the entire section of said classes. Teachers will then meet to reflect on the data.
 * Format for Data Collection

[|Common Assessment Template for Reporting[[http://pndhs.wikispaces.com/file/view/4teachertemplate.xls|4 teacher template with advanced formulas .xls]]]

[|4teachertemplate.xls] Format for Data Reflection To reflect on the data teachers will meet together to go over and identify areas of strength and weaknesses identified. A narrative summative document will be created which identifies goals and strategies for the coming academic year / semester. Sample Department Head Report for Annual Use** The department head will annually compile the reflection documents and common assessment data submitting a report to the Assistant Principal for Academics. The AP for academics will keep records of common assessments from year to year.

Geometry s1 Algebra II / Trig s1 || Algebra I s2 Geometry s2 Trig College Algebra Alegra II / Trig s2 || Biology s1 Chemistry s1 || Physical Science s2 Biology s2 Chemistry s2 || American Literature s1 British Literature s1 World Literature s1 || Introduction to Literature s2 American Literature s2 British Literature s2 World Literature s2 Speech || Church History s1 Faith and Secularism Christology Morality and Happiness || New Testament Church History s2 Faith and Secularism Morality and Happiness Ecclesiology || U.S. History s1 American Government || World History s2 U.S. History s2 Economics || French II s1 Spanish I s1 Spanish II s1 Latin I s1 Latin II s1 German I s1 German II s1 || French I s2 French II s2 Spanish I s2 Spanish II s2 Latin I s2 Latin II s2 German I s2 German II s2 ||
 * Calendar for Implementation**
 * as subjects are identified it is noted that all three levels of certain courses are included. For the fall no pre assessments will be given unless already completed. Assessments will be given for the course for each semester. Year long courses will have an assessment for each semester. A wiki will be created for under common assessment for each department to store their results and measure growth.
 * Subject / Courses || Fall 2009 (post only) by October 1 || Spring 2010 (pre and post) by January 10 ||
 * Math || Algebra s1
 * Science || Physical Science s1
 * English || Introduction to Literature s1
 * Theology || Old Testaments
 * Social Studies || World History s1
 * Foreign Language || French I s1
 * Others || Health || Web Applications ||