The BRSU Science Assessment Plan includes elements of both formative and summative assessment. Teachers met in grade level teams periodically during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years to study and experiment with the use of best practices in science assessment. Examination of student work resulted in strong endorsements for the following types of science assessment. Our assessment plan currently includes:
- Science Probes (K-8 formative assessment)
- Science Notebooks (K-8 formative assessment)
- Science Performance Tasks (gr.3-8 summative assessment)
In addition to the tools listed above, individual BRSU schools have school-based classroom assessments.
Science Probes
Science probes are short, focused questions related to an important science concept. They are designed to find out what students know, what preconceptions students bring to the classroom, and what teachers can do with this information to inform their instruction. The BRSU uses science probes from the following published resources:
- Page Keeley. Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Vol 1. 2005.
- Page Keeley. Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Vol 2. 2007.
- Page Keeley. Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Vol 3. 2008.
- Page Keeley. Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Vol 4. 2009.
In addition, science teachers in Southwest Vermont have written some science probes that we use in the BRSU. In the science curriculum documents, you will find charts which correlate all of these probes to Vermont's Grade Expectations and indicate the BRSU Science Curriculum grade level alignment.
Science Notebooks
In the BRSU, science notebooks are used as formative assessment in grades K-8. The BRSU goal is that student notebooks will be a valued record of science learning and experiences for each student. Science notebooks will include a balance of appropriate science writing. An important part of science communication should regularly include: labeled diagrams, data tables, and graphs. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, all BRSU student scientists will maintain science notebooks.
Performance Tasks
In science inquiry performance tasks, students perform a structured science inquiry to demonstrate their ability to develop a hypothesis and to collect, record, analyze, and use data. The format of these tasks is similar to the performance tasks on the grades 4 and 8 NECAP Science Assessment. Use of these tasks allows us to see how our students might perform on the performance task section of our statewide assessment.
The science performance tasks have been developed regionally, piloted with students, and revised based upon the student work. A review committee of science teachers and administrators reviews and recommends tasks for our use.
