Informal Assessment: An informal assessment can happen anywhere and at anytime within the classroom. For instance, if I am going over sight words with a class of kindergartens, I can call on them in turn and assess them on a few words to see where their skills lie at that point in time. I would record these data in order to better decide what review is needed and what we can/cannot move onto in the lesson.
Authentic Assessment: An authentic assessment in say, a foreign language class might involve two students collaborating on a dialogue for an everyday occurrence (meeting a new person, asking for directions, etc) and then acting that dialogue out in class. More in my line of study, a special education classroom would likely use a lot of authentic assessments in order to teach real-world life skills (brushing teeth, getting ready for the day independently, scheduling and managing time, etc).Modeling, demonstrating, and testing skills like these within a special education classroom ensure that students are ready to live by themselves.
Performance Assessment: A performance assessment may consist of a portfolio with all the student's work from a certain unit. Performance Assessments are invaluable in a special education classroom, especially when you have a varied constellation with different writing abilities (both intellectual and physical difficulties must be considered). Collecting a portfolio for a unit allows a teacher to gauge progress and record it without having to test constantly.
Standardized Test vs Teacher Developed Tests: A standardized test would be something like the TCAP or the new Common Core test that the state will be switching to soon. Standardized tests are not often used in special education classrooms but special education students are often required by law to take certain standardized tests, and so a special education teacher needs to be able to prepare their students to take a standardized test, even if they don't want to use one in their classroom. Usually, a special educator will want to use a teacher developed test based on a students IEP goals and objectives in order to showcase the students achievement and either modify their curriculum or accommodate it depending on their needs within the classroom.
Norm-referenced Assessment vs Criteron-Based Assessment: Criterion-based assessments simply show whether or not a student meets a certain goal/objective/mastery of a certain area. Norm-referenced assessments compare students' progress to each other and show where each student is in comparison to their peers. In a special education classroom both can be useful but you will most likely use a criterion based assessment due to the variable skills within your classroom. Norm-referenced Assesments will not likely help show where a student should be in relation to their peers if the student and the student's peers are not all on the same level.
Rebekah, I enjoyed your post. Your authentic assessment ideas actually gave me an idea for a preschool lesson plan I have to do in the next few weeks so thanks! The variety of your responses helps to memorize each type of assessment, how they can be applied in the classroom,and how useful they can be to students.
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