Events

Major impediments to district use of performance or constructed-response assessments include 1) the cost of external contractor scoring and 2) lack of trust in the validity of scores from teacher scoring. Yet, teacher scoring of student work is among the most powerful professional learning teachers can engage in. How can better scoring be provided locally in a more cost-effective manner as to encourage the use of performance or constructed-response assessments?

These challenges are addressed in the Michigan-Collaborative Scoring System (MI-CSS) project, developed from MZ Development software in collaboration with the MAC, as part of a statewide arts assessment (Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment). While the project focuses on the arts, its implications include all curriculum areas.

MDE could provide model performance assessments using written, audio or video response with rubrics for local educator use, thus providing quality classroom assessments at substantially lower cost, thus making such assessments a feasible part of a state or district balanced approaches to assessment.

The nationally recognized, Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment project has been designed to offer a full suite of resources and tools necessary to develop program quality, and support teacher quality. resulting in increased access and achievement in the arts for students. Using a catalogue of curriculum-embedded performance assessments arts teachers are now forming communities of practice to collaboratively score student work. Growth information from authentic, complex assessments that engage students in the creative process is defensibly reflected in educator evaluation plans.

Presenters include Heather Vaughan-Southard, of the Michigan Assessment Consortium, and Jeff Cuff, of MZ Development.

To register for this event, click here.

As part of the Assessment Learning Network series, this session will invite participants to imagine a process by which Michigan educators could implement a more balanced approach to assessment and give every district access to high-quality interim/benchmark assessment tools that measure the state’s content standards in a cost-effective manner. Presenters will describe how, by working in concert, assessment and subject matter experts, policy leaders, and local districts could create interim/benchmark performance assessments—in all subjects and grade levels—that teachers could embed periodically in instruction. Presenters will also explore how educators could take advantage of a cost-effective, virtual scoring system for such assessments using tools such as the already-created Michigan Collaborative Scoring System (MI-CSS), powered by OSCAR Classroom. This online tool promotes teacher collaboration in scoring student work, helping teachers to better understand what high-quality student work looks like, and how to use performance assessment to assess the deeper learning that results in student achievement.

You can register for this event here.

MAEIA fellow, Cathy DePentu, will be presenting at this year’s Michigan Music Conference. During her presentation, participants will learn how to use the MAEIA Assessments as part of their curriculum in order to document student growth and demonstrate educator effectiveness. Get familiar with the MAEIA resources and see how they can transform the evaluation process and data collection from tedious to exciting and relevant to what we teach! (Well, maybe not exciting, but definitely relevant…) Bring a laptop for some hands-on experience!

MAEIA will also be having an exhibit booth at the 2020 Michigan Music Conference. The Michigan Music Conference features school ensemble concerts, performances from Honors Choirs, All-State Bands, and Orchestras; sessions for in-service and pre-service teachers; professional development clinics; hands-on technology workshops; and association membership and business meetings. The 2019 attendance included approximately 9,000 teachers, administrators, students, speakers, and guests.