Uncovering student ideas in science, volume 1, second edition. Winner of the distinguished achievement award from association of educational publishers. For example, several studies on students ideas related to plants indicate that many students are likely to believe that plants get their food from the soil. This is summarized by black and wiliam in several accessible publications for teachers see p. This sequel to the bestseller uncovering student thinking in mathematics. Pdf uncovering student thinking in mathematics, grades k. The formative assessment probes in nstas uncovering student ideas in science series were developed to surface ideas children bring to the classroom that are often inconsistent with scientific views of concepts and phenomena. Unlike assessments given at the end of a unit, formative assessments are quick checks for understanding that give teachers valuable insight into the minds of their students. Formative and summative assessments are both important and necessary in the development of any course. Targeting instruction with formative assessment probes. Pdf keeley probes as a tool for uncovering student ideas. Pdf using formative assessment probes to evaluate the.
These strongly held ideas make sense to the learner and may resurface in adulthood, even after instructional. Both of these would be considered summative assessments. This article introduces the formative assessment probea powerful tool for collecting focused, actionable information about student thinking and potential misconceptionsalong with a process for assessment probes 146 october 2016 teaching children mathematics vol. Reading this article explains how to conduct a lesson using the probe to accomplish a better understanding of the meaning of living. Formative assessment probe california academy of sciences. Read more about the purpose of the classroom challenges. The intent of this formative assessment probe is to determine student understanding around conservation of matter using everyday items such as cookies and inform the direction of classroom instruction based on students responses. Following in the footsteps of earlier volumes in the uncovering student ideas in science series, this allnew book provides short, easytoadminister probes that determine what misconceptions students bring to the.
Eric ej782671 formative assessment probes, science and. Nsta science store uncovering student ideas in science. Apr 03, 20 using the probes for formative assessment is definitely a work in progress, but they have taught me a lot about my scholars thinking. Cookie crumbles uncovering student ideas in science, volume 1. Teacher notes that accompany the probes each of the 25 formative assessment probes includes detailed background information for. They serve as a great foundation for checking for student understanding and guide thinking through argumentation. Uncovering student ideas in science, volume 4, offers 25 more formative assessment probes to help reveal students preconceptions of fundamental concepts in science, bringing the total to 100 probes for the popular series by author page keeley. Formative assessment probes can be used to foster productive science discussions in which students make their thinking visible to themselves, their peers, and. These quick and reliable health checks give you valid indicators of your overall wellbeing. The mitten problem is designed to elicit students initial ideas about heat using a familiar experience. They attach notes and pictures to refrigerators, close cabinet and refrigerator doors, hold cans for electric can openers, weight. Post assessments and interviews revealed an improvement in the understanding of molecular size and conductivity of solutions at a conceptual level, while. In this article, the authors describe how using two formative assessment probes can help teachers determine the extent to which students make similar connections between developing a concept of matter and a concept of rocks. Briefly mention the research evidence that sets out the case for formative assessment.
Effective learning is based on active student involvement. Promoting learning through assessment does it have a life cycle. The key to a good formative assessment is that it is quick and easy, especially in the science classroom. One form that has been used successfully in science education is the formative assessment probe. Recommendations also included the use of the probes not just on an individual student basis, but as a group or class discussion prompt or as a studentteacher interview topic for more indepth assessment or, as illustrated in the floating logs vignette pp. Postassessments and interviews revealed an improvement in the understanding of molecular size and conductivity of solutions at a conceptual level, while. The one described in this article is used as a means to initiate discussion and to develop norms of argumentation for elementary students. By pinpointing one subconcept, the assessment can be embedded at the lesson level to address conceptions and misconceptions while learning is underway, helping to bridge from diagnostic to formative assessment.
This probe should be used as an extension to a lesson on the inheritance patterns. Rather than addressing a variety of math concepts, probes focus on a particular subconcept within a larger mathematical idea. The probes and strategies utilized in page keeleys book science formative assessment volume 2. Formative assessments are akin to the weekly checks you might conduct on your health by stepping on the scale, reading your blood pressure, or taking your temperature. Formative queries for the high school biology classroom. In essence, an assessment system is designed that matches the frequency of. The study by russell and watt shows that young students understand that seeds need water, but do they know what the causeandeffect relationship is between the water. Like the blockbuster before it, volume 2 will reveal the surprising misconceptions students bring to the classroomso you can adjust your teaching to foster a sound. Type of probe this section describes the format used to develop the probe. Finally, a downtoearth, researchbased source that teachers can read today and begin using tomorrow. The 25 probes in this book are organized into two sections. Nsta science store uncovering student ideas in life.
Physical science probes section 1 and life, earth, and space science probes section 2. Formative assessment probes, known as keeley probes, are one tool teachers use to reveal students scientific misconceptions, so that they can move them. Classroom science assessment examples wisconsin department. Here you will find a variety of tools and resources to use with the science formative assessment publications. Magnets are common, everyday objects people can find in their homes. By page keeley a ssessment serves many purposes in the elementary classroom. Like the blockbuster before it, volume 2 will reveal the surprising misconceptions students bring to the classroomso you can adjust your teaching to foster a sound understanding of science. The seeds in a bag formative assessment probe is designed to uncover students use of a crosscutting conceptcause and effectrelated to germination of a seed keeley 20. Formative assessment in current visions of assessment systems in recent years, formative assessment has received considerable attention in the u. During the lesson, students work in pairs or threes on a collaborative discussion task. Formative assessment, often called assessment for learning, is characterized by its primary purposepromoting learning. Identifying student misconceptions with formative assessment. Formative assessments in science educational innovations.
Rachel beattie, lincolnway east high school 32012 page 3. While probe 2 assist s teachers to determine a students reading level, the focus of attention should not simply be on a numerical outcome. Pdf effects of formative assessment probes integrated in extra. Uncovering student ideas in primary science, volume 1. The addition of 25 more formative assessment probes has now expanded the collection to a total of 75 probes into student thinking in sciencethinking that is rarely revealed through standard assessment questions. Targeting instruction with formative assessment probes article talk by amy brodesky and cheryl rose tobey teaching children mathematics, oct. Formative assessment is a process used by teachers and students during.
Science formative assessment classroom techniques facts. Mathematics assessmentprobes sage publications inc. Before the lesson, students work individually to complete an assessment task designed to reveal their current understanding and difficulties. Rti is the practice of providing highquality instruction and intervention matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about change in instruction or goals. Since publication of volume 1 of this series, thousands of teachers are using these innovative classroom tools to improve student learning in science. This is one of 25 assessment probes from the book, uncovering student ideas in life science, volume 1. Each month, this column features a probe and describes how elementary. Keeley probes as a tool for uncovering student ideas. These strongly held ideas make sense to the learner and may resurface in adulthood, even after instructional opportunities have been provided in the k6 curriculum. Threedimensional science assessments image courtesy achieve and georgia science teachers association as wisconsin implements new threedimensional standards and assessments, educators will need to work together to understand what threedimensional means for science instruction.
The lesson unit is structured in the following way. Formative assessment probes are designed to address difficulties identified in the research on student learning. Using formative probes in the classroom robinson science. The success of formative assessment is highly related to how teachers use it to adjust teaching and learning practices. It takes place both formally and informally, is embedded in. It is not included in a student grade, nor should it be used to judge a teachers performance. During these discussions, there is an exchange between the teacher and students that encourages exploratory thinking, supports careful listening to others ideas, asks for elaboration and evidencebased explanations, and. These researchers set out to find out whether or not improving formative assessment improves learning.
A formative assessment or assignment is a tool teachers use to give feedback to students andor guide their instruction. Using the studentlearning data gained through the probes to inform teaching and learning is what makes the probes formative. Mathematics formative assessment 75 practical strategies for linking assessment, instruction, and learning keeley and tobey 2011. The teacher notes that accompany each of the mathematics assessment probes in chapters 3 through 6 include information on research findings and instructional implications relevant to the instruc tional cycle described above. The extent of this attention is manifest by its inclusion along with summative and interim assessment in conceptions of balanced assessment. Formative assessment probes, known as keeley probes, are one tool teachers use to reveal students scientific misconceptions, so that they can move them closer to conceptual understanding. That is why inspire science begins every lesson with a page keeley formative assessment science probe. Nsta press book also see downloadable pdf version of this book by. Check back periodically as new tools and resources are added.
The results indicated that formative assessment and remedial instruction have a significant effect on the reading comprehension of iranian efl learners. Formative assessment probes one of the forms of formative assessment that has been used successfully in science education is the formative assessment probe keeley, the equivalent of the word probe in turkish means to investigate, to drill, and to research. Science formative assessment tools and resources uncovering. Teachers of grades k12 will find short probes with gradeband specifics that provide easytofollow. Check out this latest volume of probes organized around electric charge, electric circuits, magnets and magnetism, and electromagnetism. I will try to work on incorporating more probes in my arsenal, and making sure i go back frequently during and after instruction to tie everything together. All assessment probes in this collection are aligned to a particular science concept and fieldtested by several teachers in classes of diverse student backgrounds. The results of this study could help course book designers, educational planners. Uncovering preservice teachers ideas about magnetism and formative assessment. Whether used for pre assessment, formative assessment, or summative assessment, the information you will get from using the activities in these books will inform your teaching and enlighten you to what has been learned and what still needs further clarification. If hollywood filmed this sequel, the studio would call it probes ii.
They are intended to be used as planned formative assessments administered prior to the beginning of a unit or lesson. The power of formative assessment math probes a formative assessment math probe is a short, highlyfocused, quicktoadminister diagnostic assessment designed to pinpoint specific misconceptions students may have about a mathematical concept. Science formative assessment 75 practical strategies for linking assessment, instruction, and learning keeley 2008. This book is an great book to have in your science library. Assessment, as well as through knowledge probes and the conceptual change model. This may be a good summary to pass along to your math and science chairs. The primary methods of treatment included laboratory activities, model building and animations.
The 25 formative assessment probes in this book, like the first two volumes, are a wonderful resource for teachers interested in among other things understanding how and why students dont understandaccept key concepts even after repeated instruction. Nsta science store uncovering student ideas in primary. Sharing initial resources and processes will be a critical piece of moving forward as a state. O bserving how objects sink or float in water is an elementary precursor to developing explanations in later grades that involve an understanding of density and buoyancy.
Taking time to read the purpose will help you decide if the probe will provide the information you need to plan responsive instruction and attend to students thinking. If one, two, or even three of the participants had some problems with a particular point, she attempted to obviate the problematic. Specific ideas and concepts from benchmarks for science literacy. The classroom challenges materials may be copied and distributed, unmodified, under the creative commons attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives license 3. Formative assessment probes are designed to address difficulties identified in the research on student learn ing.
We adopted the chief council of state school officers definition and five critical attributes of formative assessment listed below. It is more important to utilise the strengths of this assessment. The second volume in the uncovering student ideas in physical science 39 electricity and magnetism formative assessment probes by page keeley and rand harrington is now available. The probes reveal that students have deep misunderstandings about science concepts. The purpose of this research was to document how four elementary school teachers used formative assessment probes to plan and adapt. Beginning as early as preschool, elementary students engage in activities that encourage. Effects of formative assessment probes integrated in extracurricular handson science. A new addition to the collection of earth, space, physical, and life science probes is the inclusion of three. Each probe is related to a specific concept taught in a typical high school biology.
Eye color is an extension of the baby mice probe from uncovering student ideas in life science, volume 2. This section lists specific concepts and ideas addressed by the probe. Formative assessment is not a test, nor an instrument, but rather an approach to teaching and learning that uses feedback as its centerpiece is a supportive classroom context. The purpose describes the specific concept the probe was designed to target. Embedding formative assessment probes and facts into the 5e instructional model. Formative assessment and nextgeneration assessment systems. While this probe specifically targets ideas related to sources of heat, this simple investigation provides a lesson 1. Author page keeley continues to provide k12 teachers with her highly usable and popular formula for uncovering and addressing the preconceptions that students bring to the classroomthe formative assessment probein this first book devoted exclusively to life science in her uncovering. Formative probes the second to last web seminar i attended for nstas new science teacher academy this spring was on student inquiry. Student misconceptions identifying and reformulating by. Cookie crumbles uncovering student ideas in science.
There is a link between formative assessment and self assessment. Using the probes for formative assessment is definitely a work in progress, but they have taught me a lot about my scholars thinking. Assessment probes should never be graded, as this diminishes their utility as formative assessment tools. Download a brief guide for teachers and administrators. Formative assessment probes can be used to foster productive science discussions in which students make their thinking visible to themselves, their peers, and the teacher. Using the probes and facts with the scientific and engineering practices handout. Dylan wiliam was a math and science teacher and he goes into many math and science examples to illustrate his points that are not included in this summary. Cookie crumbles uncovering student ideas in science, volume.
Formative assessment probes can be effective tools to help teachers build a bridge between students initial ideas and scientific ones. The potential of formative assessment to improve learning. If you have an nsta account, i suggest you search for that archived seminar from the learning center and watch it asap. Probe 2 reading comprehension assessment probe 2 is an assessment resource that can help make these observations. A central role of the use of assistments for homework is to help teachers engage in effective formative assessment, a theoryand researchbased practice e. The probes and the above process are described in detail in this chapter. Not all formative assessment probes are used in the same way. Math probes have been developed, fieldtested, and implemented by. Uncovering student ideas in life science, volume 1.