Group+5+-+Week+2

Group 5 Members: **__ 1. Use the DISCUSSION tab above to find your discussion questions and/or tasks. __**
 * Louise Nowak
 * Jennifer Murphy
 * Kristle Pappas
 * Leila Dahleh
 * Nabila Dahleh

//** 2. **// //** POST the selected response items created collaboratively with your discussion group here (as a group decide who will take the lead and post each item): **//

** · ** ** 1 binary-choice assessment item ** Answer Fact or Opinion for the following statement.

1) Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.

** · ** ** 1 multiple binary-choice assessment item **

Answer True or False for the following statements about states and their capitals.

1. Chicago is the State Capital of Illinois. 2. Dallas is the State Capital of Texas. 3. Denver is the Sate Capital of Colorado. 4. Concord is the State Capital of Connecticut. 5. Trenton is the State Capital of New Jersey.

** · ** ** 1 multiple-choice assessment item **

In the equation 5x + 5 = 10, solve for x.

A. 2 B. 5 C. 1 D. 1.5 E. 4

· ** 1 matching item **

On the line next to each children's book in Column A print the letter of the animal in column B that is a main character in that book. Each animal in Column B can be used only once. Column A

1. Curious George 2. Little Red Riding hood 3. The Lion King 4. Bambi 5.Goldilocks and The Three Bears 6. The Three Little Pigs

Column B

A. Lion B. Bear C. Monkey D. Pig E. Wolf F. Mouse G. Deer F. Tiger

3**__ . POST YOUR GROUP CONSENSUS HERE (The group leader for these 4 Short Answer activities will be the member whose middle name comes earliest in alphabetical order.): __**


 * Short Answer Item # 1 - flaw(s)?** The short answer item is not a direct question.

**Evidence:** In the case of short-answer items it is generally better to use direct questions vs. incomplete statements. Direct questions are less confusing. Furthermore, Commandment 5 relates because creating effective assessments holds for constructed responses, as well. Also, since the question item is incomplete anything can be inserted in that space. Slide 8 on the Constructed Response Tests PowerPoint tells us to carefully construct items to elicit a concise and accurate response. In addition, on slide 6 it states direct questions are less confusing. A direct question forces a tightly phrased response.


 * Short Answer Item # 2 - flaw(s)?** The word "least" is the flaw in this short answer item.
 * Evidence: ** Placing the word least might throw the student off while reading this question. The focus of a good assessment should be on finding out what students know and do not know. It should not focus on trick questions. The five commandments support this short answer. According to the writing guidelines, it is best to decide upon the correct answer, then build the question to elicit that response. In the case of this question, students might respond with different answers. The word 'least' can potentially confuse students. It's tricky because you have to reread the sentence a couple of times just to understand what the question is asking. Slide 10 on the Selected Responses gives the helpful reminder to put yourself in the students shoes to anticipate how they are going to interpret a test.


 * Short Answer Item # 3 - flaw(s)?** The use of wording such as 'this kind' and 'usually' is the flaw in this short-answer item.


 * Evidence:** The use of the word 'usually' will confuse students, because technically the question is not looking for a correct answer. The students all might have different answers. There are all sorts of answers that a student might legitimately make to such a test item. Slide two also suggests that you carefully construct test items in order to elicit a concise and accurate response. This kind of question can have almost any number as any answer, especially if the student doesn't remember what they learned from the lesson. In a way, it's a little too abstract.


 * Short Answer Item # 4 - flaw(s)?**The short answer item is unclear and it has an unintended clue.


 * Evidence:** This question supports Commandment 4. Thou shall not employ complex syntax in assessment items. This sentence should be reworded. A teacher should avoid complicated sentence construction and he/she should use simple sentences. In addition, this short-answer supports slide 12 from the writing guidelines. The short answer item should be rephrased, so the students can get a better understanding of the short answer item. Also on slide 15, it talks about the unintended clue. If the blanks are at different lengths you are giving the student a hint. If you vary the length of the blanks according to the length of the correct response – you are supplying unintended clues to your students.

**__ 4. POST YOUR GROUP CONSENSUS HERE (The group leader for these 4 Essay activities will be the member whose birthday is closest to Independence Day, July 4th.): __**

Essay Item # 1 - flaw(s)? Don't offer optional items on essay exams.

Evidence: When students select from different items, they are essentially taking different exams. This can make it harder for a teacher to compare exam performance on a common scale. This should be taken into consideration because the biggest challenge with essay questions is a reliable scoring item.

Essay Item # 2 - flaw(s)?

Don't offer optional items in essay exams.

Evidence: Again, slide 25 states that it isn't a good idea to offer students optional test items because they are then taking different tests. This makes scoring more difficult and it makes it impossible for the teacher to judge / compare exam performance on a common scale.

Essy Item # 3 - flaw(s)? Do not use vocabulary more advanced than your audience.

Evidence: This is supported by Commandment 5. Also, Commandment 4, thou shall not employ complex syntax in assessment items, relates to this flaw. The question should be concise and simple enough that everyone in the class can understand it.

Essay Item # 4 - flaw(s)? Thou shall not provide opaque directions to students. And don't offer optional test items on essay questions.

Evidence This is supported by Commandment 1. If the directions are unclear, students who are taking the test may become confused, resulting in a wrong answer. Slide 25 also suggest not offering students optional test items, which this teacher does. We know that when you do this, you are actually giving students different tests which can make them difficult to score. Also, slide 23 suggests letting students know upfront which questions will count for more points; this way, students will know that they should spend more time on a particular question because it is worth more. If they didn't know this, they might waste time and energy on low-value items.

**__ 5. POST YOUR INDIVIDUAL DESIGNS HERE: __** ** Your own design -LOUISE ** (This would be directed towards 5th grade students: Phases of the moon) What phase of the moon occurs when the moon is positioned //between// the Earth and sun? (Answer: New Moon)
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **

What is the process of photosynthesis?
 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

There are 6 phases to the process, describe what happens during each phase. This question should take you no longer than 15 minutes.

(Answer: (1) First, carbon dioxide from the air enters the plant through small pores on the leaves (or stomates). (2) Next, water enters the plant through the roots and runs through the stem and leaves.(3) When the leaves receive sunlight, it is trapped by chlorophyll (I would accept this instead of chlorophyll- the green pigment which gives the leaf its color) in the leaf. (4) Then, electrons present in the chlorophyll molecules will react with protons present in the water molecules within the cells of the plant. (5) The sun's energy that is trapped in the leaves is used to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen.(6) Lastly, hydrogen is combined with the carbon dioxide to provide energy for the plant, while oxygen is let out through the pores of plant's leaves (stomates can also be accepted) as a by product of the process.)

** Your own design - JENNIFER **


 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **


 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

** Your own design -KRISTLE ** Who was the youngest ancient Egyptian pharaoh to rule Egypt?
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **
 * Answer:** King Tutankhamen or King Tut

Name and describe the three types of volcanoes that we learned about in class. Describe each volcano's physical features and how each one is formed. (This question should take no more than 15 minutes. It is worth 15 points.)
 * ** 1 essay assessment item **
 * Answer:** The three types of volcanoes we discussed in class are composite, shield, and cinder cone. A composite volcano has moderately steep sides. These volcanoes are formed from many layers of lava and rock fragments. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes and are broad shaped. Many layers of runny lava flows form these volcanoes. The last type of volcano we learned about is the cinder cone volcano, which has steep slopes. These volcanoes are composed of small lava fragments.

** Your own design -LEILA **

How many minutes are in 3 hours? (ANSWER: 180 minutes)
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **


 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

Identify three human actions that are causing global warming. Be sure to address how these three examples are affecting our environment. You should spend no more than 15 minutes answering this question. Your answer should be no longer than 150 words. **(This test question is worth 20 points.)**

** Your own design -NABILA ** __** - 1 short-answer assessment item **__

__** Answer: **__** Red blood cells ** __** -1 essay assessment item **__
 * Which of the cells found in the human body carries oxygen to all other living cells? **
 * What role does each of the following play during the contraction of muscle? ATP, lactic acid, oxygen, and mitochondria.**
 * (Spend no more than 15 minutes answering this question. It is worth 20 points.)**