Educational Assessment in the Twenty-First Century

The field of educational assessment is dynamic and continuously evolving. There are some aspects of the profession that have been stable for many years. For example, classical test theory has been around for almost a century and is still very influential today. However, many aspects of educational assessment are almost constantly evolving as the result of a number of external and internal factors. Some of these changes are the result of theoretical or technical advances, some reflect philosophical changes within the profession, and some are the result of external societal or political influences. It is important for assessment professionals to stay informed regarding new developments in the field and to consider them with an open mind. To illustrate some of the developments the profession is dealing with today, we will briefly highlight a few contemporary trends that are likely to continue to impact assessment practices as you enter the teaching profession.

Teachers should be proficient in the following:

1. Selecting professionally developed assessment procedures appropriate for making instructional decisions.
2. Developing assessment procedures that are appropriate for making instructional decisions.
3. Administering, scoring, and interpreting professionally developed and teacher-made assessment procedures.
4. Using assessment results when making educational decisions.
5. Developing valid grading procedures that incorporate assessment information.
6. Communicating assessment results.
7. Recognizing unethical, illegal, and other inappropriate uses of assessment procedures or information.

Source of original statements :

Cecil R. Reynolds. Ronald B. Livingston. Victor Willson. Measurement and Assessment
in Education. 2009. New Jersey : Pearson