Writing Standards-Based Assessments

Course Information

Lesson 1

Introduction to the

Levels of Learning

In this lesson, you will learn about the taxonomy of educational objectives and how they relate to your state standards.

Lesson 2

Assessing at Lower

Levels of Learning

In this lesson, you will learn more about how to assess those standards written at the lower levels of the taxonomy. Specific verbs and question stems will help guide you in developing your own assessment items.

Lesson 3

Assessing the Middle Levels of Learning

In this lesson, you will learn the requirements of learning at the middle levels of thought. You will determine which standards are written at this level. You will also learn how to choose the most appropriate verbiage for items that will test your students at this level.

Lesson 4

Assessing at Higher Levels of Learning

In this lesson, you will learn about the highest order of thinking skills. You will recognize when your standards call for this level of thought. You will also learn how to write assessment items that will assess student learning at this level.

Lesson 5

Principles of Writing Assessment Good Items

In this lesson, you will learn principles for creating good multiple choice items. You will understand the techniques for developing good stems as well as choices that will prevent students from using standard tricks when answering questions, instead requiring them to think the questions through. 

Lesson 6

Other Issues in Assessment

In this lesson you will learn about other important considerations when developing assessment items, including bias and the use of alternative assessment methods when the standard can not be assessed with a multiple choice question.

Lesson 7

Putting it All Together

In this lesson, you will learn how to write assessment items that are aligned in content and cognitive level, while keeping in mind the principles of good item writing.