Module Descriptions

Designing Sound Assessment (DSA): Series Overview (30 minutes)  

This module provides an overview of the designing sound assessment series of online modules.

DSA: Creating and Using Rubrics (2 hours)

In this module, you will be provided an overview with illustrated examples of the different types of rubrics as well as their benefits and limitations; learn how to create your own high-quality analytic rubrics; increase your understanding by critiquing rubrics for quality; learn how to use your critique to revise and strengthen your rubrics; and see illustrations of some of the key ways rubrics are used to support learning, both in your classroom and at the school and district levels.

DSA: Creating and Using PLDs (2 hours)

In this module you will learn how to explain the purpose and elements of a PLD, create high-quality PLDs, critique PLDs, and understand the uses of PLDs to advance learning. In this module, you will see how PLDs define novice, intermediate, and mastery level learning for a lesson, unit, course, or year. When you finish this module, you will understand how PLDs can help you plan stronger instruction and assessment.

DSA: Creating and Using Assessment Blueprints (2 hours)

In this module you will learn how assessment blueprints can help you and your students become more efficient and effective at evaluating learning. Not only will you be ready to plan and collect the evidence you need quickly and accurately, you will also be ready to use blueprints as a tool for cultivating student ownership of learning.

DSA: Creating and Using Written Response Assessment (2 hours)

This module consists of four parts:

Part One: Defining Written Response, 

Part Two: Creating Written Response, 

Part Three: Critiquing Written Response and 

Part Four: Using Written Response. 

In this module, you will be provided an overview with illustrated examples of written response assessment items as well as their benefits and limitations; learn how to create your own high-quality written response assessment items; increase your understanding by critiquing written response assessment items for quality; learn how to use your critique to revise and strengthen your written response assessment items, and see illustrations of how written response assessment items are used to support learning, both in your classroom and at the school and district levels.

DSA: Creating and Using Verbal Response Assessment (2 hours)

This module consists of four parts: 

Part One: Defining Verbal Response,  

Part Two: Creating Verbal Response, 

Part Three: Critiquing Verbal Response and 

Part Four: Using Verbal Response. 

In this module, you will be provided an overview with illustrated examples of verbal response assessment items as well as their benefits and limitations; learn how to create your own high-quality verbal response assessment items; increase your understanding by critiquing verbal response assessment items for quality; learn how to use your critique to revise and strengthen your verbal response assessment items, and see illustrations of how verbal response assessment items are used to support learning, both in your classroom and at the school and district levels.

DSA: Creating and Using Performance Assessment (2 hours)

This module consists of four parts: 

Part One: Defining Performance Assessment, 

Part Two: Creating Performance Assessment, 

Part Three: Critiquing Performance Assessment, and 

Part Four: Using Performance Assessment. 

In this module, you will be provided an overview with examples of performance assessment as well as its benefits and limitations; learn how to create your own high-quality performance assessments; increase your understanding by critiquing performance assessment for quality; learn how to use your critique to revise and strengthen your performance assessments, and see examples of how performance assessments are used to support learning, both in your classroom and at the school and district levels.

DSA: Creating & Using Selected Response Assessment (2 hours)

In this module, you will see illustrated examples of the elements of selected response assessment as well as its benefits and limitations; you will learn how to create your own high-quality selected response items; you will have a chance to practice and build on your own understanding by critiquing selected response items for quality; and you will learn key ways selected response assessment is used to support learning, both in your classroom and at the school and district levels.

DSA: Designing and Critiquing Sound Assessment: Putting the Pieces Together (2 hours)

This module consists of four parts: 

Part One: Designing for Purpose and Efficiency, 

Part Two: Designing and Critiquing Sound Pre-Assessment, 

Part Three: Designing and Critiquing Sound Interim Assessment, and 

Part Four: Designing and Critiquing Sound Post-Assessment. 

In this module you will learn how to cohesively use all of the knowledge gained in the first seven Designing Sound Assessment modules.