Educational Assessments: How to Use them for Good and not Evil

This course is designed to introduce you to the foundational theory and practice of classroom, large-scale and standardized educational assessments.  In the broadest sense, the scope of this series will focus on the central role of assessment within the teaching-learning dynamic.  More concretely, you will develop an understanding of how assessment techniques can generate a positive feedback loop, wherein information is continually collected, leading to more accurate evaluation decisions and a constructive teacher-learner dialogue.  During the course you will gain an understanding of topics such as reliability, validity, norm- and criterion-referenced assessments, and achievement testing. Additionally, you will explore the basic principles of classroom assessment design and planning.