BACK TO THE FUTURE Reclaiming Effective Mathematics Assessment Strategies

摘要: In this article, I describe some efforts initiated about 2 decades ago to reform mathematics assessment. Many, if not most, of those ideas have gradually eroded only from school practice but also the knowledge base current day thinking and research in addition exploring explaining policy, political, economic factors that led demise these ideas, want recall encourage educators reconsider them explore ways they might be adapted implemented once again. It is necessary first provide a brief account developments forces believe status assessment today.More than 20 years ago, edited book titled Assessing Higher Order Thinking Mathematics (Kulm, 1990) which was one attempts by leading experts develop for reforming traditional paper-andpencil, multiple-choice approaches assessing student achievement. book, stated "More comprehensive thoughtful should begin replace simplistic report cards, group comparisons, minimal competency emphasis earlier accountability indicator efforts" (p. 77). The authors chapters addressed issues day, including higher order (Baker), alignment curriculum (Pandey), new frameworks (Romberg, Zarinnia, & Collis), problem solving (Lester Kroll), uses technology (Lesh; Strong; Lipson, Faletti, Martinez). Authors reported on multiple dimensions learning (Nichols, Cobb, Yackel, Wood, Wheatley), schemas (Marshall), quantitative reasoning (McKnight), structured items (Wilson).The inspired part pilot study National Assessment Educational Progress (NAEP), explored provided examples innovative emphasized "hands-on" performance (NAEP, 1987). member team science working with NAEP dozen tasks, group-administered openended problems, "station activities" required students use equipment, "experiments" administered individual investigate discuss findings administrator. tasks assessed skills classifying, observing making inferences, formulating hypotheses, interpreting data. field-tested national sample 1,000 third, seventh, eleventh grade students. results indicated conducting hands-on "feasible extremely worthwhile" 7). Participating teachers administrators were enthusiastic promise information obtainable through types tasks.As momentum grew teachers, schools, states began test them. Various terms assessments appear: authentic, performance, alternative. Grants federal government became available (e. g. Kulm, 1994c), train their Telese, McMullen, 1993), do effectiveness (e.g., 1994a, 1994b). At same time, several experimented with, as state achievement measures. There sense, parallel reforms standards movements (National Council Teachers Mathematics, 1989), ment could reflect reinforce goals leam procedures mathematics, concepts, processes, applications are essential modem world (Mathematics Science Education Board, 1993; Webb, 1993). …