Deck 9: Authentic Assessment and Portfolios

Question 1

What might be the problem if a young child was tested unfairly? Maybe you recall a time when a teacher made an incorrect judgement about you?

Answer 1

The validity and authenticity of the test and its proposed findings would be in question. Skilled and focused observations are integral to authentic assessment.

Question 2

Why might you think that a scrapbook containing a child's artwork and a few sticky notes might not seem very professional if presented to a parent that way?

Answer 2

As professionals, we have a particular way of viewing documents and presentations to parents. We view them from a scholarly standpoint. While there is nothing wrong with this viewpoint, parents may be more focused on the 'tangible' items a child makes (like a painting, representation etc.) and may or may not understand the scholarly observational data. Whatever the form of the documentation, it is the educator's role to present the materials to parents, for example, in its best light, highlighting the successes and skills that the child has achieved.

Question 3

When would a child be able to contribute to record keeping about his or her own experiences and learning?

Answer 3

As soon as children are aware that records are kept, they should be able to make contributions. Some very young children may want to know what you are writing about them. Frequently, you might be able to share your observations with them, giving them a sense that you value what they are doing. Four-year-olds may offer pictures for inclusion and will want a place to keep their "best work". School-age children who have some basic writing skills may be able to contribute to a learning log.

Question 4

All schools and child care centres keep child portfolios.

Question 5

The portfolio philosophy is about keeping as much information as possible about every child.

Question 6

Portfolios do not contain items contributed by the parents.

Question 7

Baby books can have some sentimental value for the parents and the child.

Question 8

When children are old enough, they can take responsibility for some of the contents of their own portfolios.

Question 9

Artwork samples may show the child's developmental progress in representing the world.

Question 10

Without an analysis of the content, a portfolio has little but sentimental purpose.

Question 11

Portfolios are better than reports that have no back-up documentation.

Question 12

Only a few standard methods of observing and recording are appropriate in a portfolio.

Question 13

Rubrics are a set of assessment criteria.

Question 14

A genogram can be included in a portfolio.

Question 15

Portfolios may assist in analyzing holistic development.
C. Select the answer that best completes each sentence.

Question 16

Portfolios are an excellent way to document learning because

A) teachers get to hear all about the child's family
B) parents get to snoop on what teachers are doing
C) children can be empowered to take charge of their learning
D) administrators can see what the teachers are doing in the classrooms

Question 17

Parents like to be part of the assessment process so that they can

A) tell teachers what they should be teaching
B) tell children what they should be learning
C) collaborate with administrators regarding the curriculum
D) contribute to the child's learning

Question 18

A common criticism of portfolio assessment is that the criteria for assessment

A) seem unclear
B) seem too rigid
C) are only normative
D) are only summative

Question 19

Portfolio assessment is a form of authentic assessment because it measures performance

A) with authentic tests
B) naturalistically
C) with standardized assessments
D) using educational psychologists

Question 20

Contextual information supports portfolio assessment for the following reason

A) portfolios consider achievements in a personal and cultural manner
B) portfolios document knowledge of letter sounds
C) portfolios are more interesting if they describe the child's family
D) portfolios are put in alphabetical order

Question 21

One disadvantage of using a portfolio is

A) detail of analysis can surpass detail produced by any other evaluation method
B) all children cannot be studied in depth
C) it includes parent involvement
D) that no training is required

Question 22

The purpose of a portfolio is

A) demonstrate children's developmental weaknesses
B) evaluate early learning environments
C) record stages of children's development
D) collect random children's created items

Question 23

Contents of a portfolio can include

A) health records, artwork samples, developmental checklists
B) questionnaire responses, event samples, report cards
C) course grades, analysis, digital recordings
D) running records, learning log, centre philosophy statement

Question 24

Working in a setting that focused on authentic learning, how might you gather information about a child in a way that is meaningful?

Question 25

If portfolio assessment is so thorough and appropriate, why don't all programs use it?

Question 26

What learning might a student teacher gain from compiling a portfolio and conducting an assessment with its contents?

Question 27

What ways could you make children's learning visible to others so that you could reflect on it and, perhaps, make a plan to extend it?

Question 28

If a parent offers you a copy of a child's baby book as a part of the portfolio you are creating, what use might it have?

Question 29

When would a child be able to contribute to record keeping about his or her own experiences and learning?

Question 30

Select a child who you can access on several occasions-someone who is not a family member or an individual previously known to you. Create a portfolio about him or her that includes a selection of observations. Include other important information about the child that might help the reader of the portfolio to understand who this person is. Follow appropriate steps to manage your data collection and use suitable methods for recording it. Present your work to the family of the child as celebration of your subject's individuality and competence.
Note: Review the assessment rubric for this task. It offers details that will help you prepare for the task and be successful as you carry it out.

Question 31

Your early learning centre hasn't used portfolios before and you would like to see them added to the assessment process. Brainstorm some of the reasons why early childhood educators don't want to use them. What answers would you give in rebuttal?