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StanfordOnline: Performance Assessment in the NGSS Classroom: Implications for Practice

This course from the Stanford NGSS Assessment Project (SNAP) is designed to guide participants in exploring the role performance assessment can play in helping students meet the goals of the Next Generation Science Standards. Participants will learn SNAP's strategies for analyzing what an assessment is evaluating, analyzing multidimensional student data, and making instructional decisions based on evidence of students' progress and additional needs. Participants will have opportunities throughout the course to practice using these strategies with sample short performance assessments (20 minute tasks) and student data.

Performance Assessment in the NGSS Classroom: Implications for Practice
4 weeks
1–3 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
This course is archived
Future dates to be announced

About this course

Skip About this course

This course from the Stanford NGSS Assessment Project (SNAP) is designed to guide participants in exploring the role performance assessment can play in helping their students meet the goals of the Next Generation Science Standards. Participants will learn SNAP's strategies for analyzing what an assessment is evaluating, analyzing multidimensional student data, and making instructional decisions based on evidence of students' progress and additional needs. Participants will have opportunities throughout the course to practice using these strategies with sample short performance assessments (20 minute tasks) and student data.

This course follows a hybrid format designed to support groups of colleagues learning together. Instruction is delivered through four video sessions and the assignments for those sessions are done in-person (face-to-face) with groups of colleagues. One member of the group should be designated a facilitator. Because this format is so unusual, we have created introductory videos to help you organize your groups and prepare for the face-to-face sessions. Note: SNAP is not present in these meetings -- we provide facilitation guides and all of the materials you will need for the assignments, but these meetings are run by you and your colleagues.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Strategies for analyzing what an assessment is evaluating
  • How to analyze multidimensional student data
  • How to make instructional decisions based on evidence of student progress and needs

Frequently Asked Questions

Skip Frequently Asked Questions

What web browser should I use?

The edX platform works best with current versions of Chrome, Firefox or Safari, or with Internet Explorer version 9 and above.

Do I have to do this course with a group?

The analyses that you will be doing in this course benefit from opportunities to discuss your ideas and to hear different perspectives. We regularly hear from participants who have taken the course alone that they REALLY needed a group. Also, participants report that the collaboration with their colleagues was essential to their learning in this course. If you don't have a group, you can use the discussion board to set up a virtual group.

How long does the course take?

We estimate that the whole course takes about 12-15 hours. The videos are not long, but some videos have questions embedded in them, making them take longer than the video length in.

Can I use this course for professional development credit?

When you complete the course, a you will be able to print a confirmation of course completion.

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