Assessment is an essential element of effective instruction. In this hands-on workshop, you will explore the purpose, benefits, and application of a variety of assessments: needs assessments, student self-assessments, and formative and summative assessments. Presenters will model these assessments throughout the course, and you will have opportunities to apply them. You will use the principles of backward design to identify learning outcomes, define effective assessment strategies, and build a learning plan that will guide learners to successful achievement of the targeted objectives.

• Module 1: Independent Preliminary Activities provides foundational knowledge about assessment. It includes a needs assessment and a self-assessment, as well as a review of Massachusetts ESOL Professional Standard 5: Assessment. (1/3/25)
• Module 2: Facilitated Virtual Session 1 covers how to use needs assessments and self-assessments to customize instruction for students. It also covers how to apply backward design principles to align assessment to instructional goals.  (1/10/25, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
• Module 3: Independent Activities guides you in applying the first two sessions by designing a needs assessment and then identifying learning objectives and assessments for the unit that are informed by the results of the needs assessment. (1/10 – 1/24/25)
• Module 4: Facilitated Virtual Session 2 explores how to develop effective summative assessments based on learning objectives and how to select and design tools, such as rubrics, to measure and evaluate learning. (1/24/25, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
• Module 5: Independent Activities guides you in applying key elements from the second facilitated session by designing a project-based summative assessment with a single-point rubric. You will also preview formative, peer, and student self-assessment strategies and activities. (1/24/25 – 2/7/25)
• Module 6: Facilitated Virtual Session 3 focuses on peer and student self-assessments and explores a variety of formative assessment techniques to gauge student learning, check for understanding, and inform instruction. There will be time at the end of the final session to reflect on key learnings from the entire PD series. (2/7/25, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) 

PLEASE NOTE:

• If you are interested in this topic, but are unable to attend all of the sessions as outlined here, please see our resource collection on the SABES website at: https://www.sabes.org/pd-team/esol
• Before the course opens, registrants will receive a separate email with instructions on how to access the synchronous sessions via Zoom. If you do not receive these instructions, please check your Spam folder and/or email nruskin@edc.org.