This book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 LicenseHowever, writing a five-paragraph paper is not as authentic as such papers are not used in the world of work.
However, a five paragraph paper is a complex task and would typically be classified as a performance assessment.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are several advantages of performance assessments (Linn & Miller 2005). First, the focus is on complex
learning outcomes that often cannot be measured by other methods. Second, performance assessments typically
assess process or procedure as well as the product. For example, the teacher can observe if the students are
repairing the machine using the appropriate tools and procedures as well as whether the machine functions
properly after the repairs. Third, well designed performance assessments communicate the instructional goals and
meaningful learning clearly to students. For example, if the topic in a fifth grade art class is one-point perspective
the performance assessment could be drawing a city scene that illustrates one point perspective.
(http://www.sanford-artedventures.com). This assessment is meaningful and clearly communicates the learning
goal. This performance assessment is a good instructional activity and has good content validity—common with
well designed performance assessments (Linn & Miller 2005).
One major disadvantage with performance assessments is that they are typically very time consuming for
students and teachers. This means that fewer assessments can be gathered so if they are not carefully devised fewer
learning goals will be assessed—which can reduce content validity. State curriculum guidelines can be helpful in
determining what should be included in a performance assessment. For example, Eric, a dance teacher in a high
school in Tennessee learns that the state standards indicate that dance students at the highest level should be able
to do demonstrate consistency and clarity in performing technical skills by:
- performing complex movement combinations to music in a variety of meters and styles
- performing combinations and variations in a broad dynamic range
- demonstrating improvement in performing movement combinations through self-evaluation
- critiquing a live or taped dance production based on given criteria
(http://www.tennessee.gov/education/ci/standards/music/dance912.shtml)
Eric devises the following performance task for his eleventh grade modern dance class.
In groups of 4-6 students will perform a dance at least 5 minutes in length. The dance selected should
be multifaceted so that all the dancers can demonstrate technical skills, complex movements, and a
dynamic range (Items 1-2). Students will videotape their rehearsals and document how they
improved through self evaluation (Item 3). Each group will view and critique the final performance
of one other group in class (Item 4). Eric would need to scaffold most steps in this performance
assessment. The groups probably would need guidance in selecting a dance that allowed all the
dancers to demonstrate the appropriate skills; critiquing their own performances constructively;
working effectively as a team, and applying criteria to evaluate a dance.
Another disadvantage of performance assessments is they are hard to assess reliably which can lead to
inaccuracy and unfair evaluation. As with any constructed response assessment, scoring rubrics are very important.
Educational Psychology 262 A Global Text