Assessment tools
An analysis of the assessment tools used at the schools in which the new
curriculum has been implemented reveals that in some schools that are
providing differentiated instruction, the students still all take the same paper
and pencil (written) tests for their mid-year and final-semester examinations.
These tests are designed to measure students’ knowledge using mainly
multiple choice questions. The most common test type has five choices.
There are also short answer questions, which require students to fill-in the
blanks, and yes/no questions. The short answer questions, in most cases, only
have one correct answer so that there is no controversy surrounding the
answer. The analysis found that the summative tests are norm-referenced, so
the students are ranked according to the results they get.
In other schools where differentiated instruction is provided, however,
different types of test questions are presented, and the students can choose
which one to answer, which allows the assessors to measure the extent
to which each student has achieved the learning goals. Figure 6 gives an
example of this kind of differentiated test (Min et al., 2012, p. 158). In the
figure, there are three types of questions. Each option requires a different level
of problem-solving skill, and different scores are given according to the skill
level (i.e. 3 points for the low level, 4 points for the intermediate level and 5
points for the advanced level).
Figure 6: Test options for a differentiated class
Choose and solve one question out of the three.
5–1. Simplify 2(x-3)-3(3x-5) [3 points]
5–2. Simplify [4 points]
5–3. Simplify [5 points]3x+2
3x-5- 2
2x-2
2 2(2x -
2x-1
- 3
Source: Min et al, 2010, p. 158.
Some schools are adopting process-oriented performance assessment
approaches and are devising rubrics for assessment, which they share among
teachers. Rubrics can be used to assess various types of learning activities
such as voluntary participation, presentation, group work, homework and
cooperative learning. Figure 7 shows a rubric an English teacher uses to assess
student performance in summarizing a given story (using a graphic organizer)
and writing up the main points of the story.