1. Students will engage in individual and cooperative learning tasks which will increase their understanding of the principles of educational assessment of students.
2. Through an increased understanding of these principles, students will learn how to apply them in other contexts (such as in their own classrooms).
3. Students will increase their ability to utilize various educational tools and materials (e.g., technology) to assist them in understanding and applying principles of educational assessment.

Course Structure Rationale:

Students in this course will be pretested on their baseline knowledge of educational assessment and evaluation to use as a guidepost for instruction and knowledge attainment. The first unit of instruction will focus on familiarizing students with the purposes and uses of educational evaluation of students, as well as the characteristics of valid and reliable assessments. The second unit of instruction will familiarize students with how to develop various types of assessment tools and use them to evaluate students and inform instructional practices. The final unit of instruction will deal with the use and interpretation of standardized tests. Together, these three units of instruction will increase the students' abilities to apply principles to authentic contexts, such as a K-12 classroom.

Course Materials:

Textbook - Nitko, A.J. (2001). Educational assessment of students (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

In addition to the required textbook, students will also make use of the University at Albany's Electronic Reserve System (ERES) to complete assigned readings when necessary, and utilize the ERES Discussion Board for required assignments.

Attendance, Participation, and Integrity Policy:

Attendance for each class is expected unless prior excuses are granted. Those who attend and participate will be rewarded accordingly. Participation in each aspect of the course is also expected. Furthermore, students will be expected to follow the University at Albany guidelines regarding academic honesty.

Class Evaluation:

Grades will be based on a point system where points are awarded as follows:

1. 3 Unit Exams worth 50 points each (150 possible points).
2. 10 Discussion Board postings worth 5 points each (50 possible points).
3. 10 Discussion Board replies worth 5 points each (50 possible points).
4. 5 In-class assignments worth 10 points each (50 possible points).
5. Attendance and participation worth 5 points each class (70 possible points).

Total possible points = 370

Point/Grade breakdown:

344-370 points = letter grade "A"
333-343 points = letter grade "A-"
322-332 points = letter grade "B+"
307-321 points = letter grade "B"
296-306 points = letter grade "B-"
285-295 points = letter grade "C+"
270-284 points = letter grade "C"
259-269 points = letter grade "C-"
248-258 points = letter grade "D+"
233-247 points = letter grade "D"

Note that the point system is subject to revision during the course of the semester.

Exams:

There will be three unit exams which are non-cumulative in nature, meaning they will cover only the material for the particular unit for which they are testing. Exams will consist of 25 multiple choice questions worth 2 points each for a total of 50 points for each exam. After statistical analyses are conducted on item responses, some questions may be subject to rejection which may alter the scoring of the exam (in your favor).

Discussion Board Postings/Replies:

Students will be expected to post 10 original postings and 10 replies to other students' postings utilizing the Discussion Board on the University at Albany Library's Electronic Reserve (ERes) Discussion Board software. These postings will be in regards to material located on ERES or as otherwise specified by the instructor. To access the ERes, you will need to use the password "evaluation" (small case letters without the quotation marks). This will be further explained in class.

In-Class & Extra Credit:

During the course of the semester, you will be expected to perform in-class tasks related to the material being covered (e.g., constructing test items using various item formats). These tasks will be described as we progress through the course. In addition, the instructor will assign extra credit opportunities for those who wish to make the extra effort to improve their grades and learning experience.

Computer Use Statement:

This course uses various aspects of computer technology to assist students in reaching the course goals. Technology integration is the standard in today's classrooms, so students need to be familiar with their use. It is expected that at this stage of your academic career, you are familiar with the basic operation of computers and that you have gained some experience in using the Internet. For those who are unfamiliar with these tools, guidance will be provided as necessary.

This syllabus is subject to revision as deemed necessary by the instructor. Please check back for periodic updates.

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