Research: Learner Assessment

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Adventures in Assessment: Learner-Centered Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation in Adult Literacy
System for Adult Basic Education Support (SABES)
Annual publication (1991-2004) presents issues and challenges of using alternative assessments in adult education. Adventures in Assessment is written by adult educators. Volumes discuss effective assessment systems and examples from practice. Examples of articles include:

• Assessment in Motion Volume 15, Spring 2003 "Briefly Annotated Bibliography" describes articles included in past issues of Adventures in Assessment. Links are provided to some of the more recent articles. http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/adventures/vol15/vol15.pdf
• Meeting the Accountability Challenge Adventures in Assessment, Volume 13, Spring 2001 Features a site-specific tool developed by the Adult Community Learning Center at Quinsigamond Community College to meet changing assessment needs. Tool measures oral, reading, writing, and grammar skills, and aids in learner placement through objective scoring methods. Components include an initial assessment and assessments for each of the four skill areas, as well as directions for test administrators. http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/adventures/vol13/vol13.pdf

Assessment in Adult Education
B. Smith, Hudson River Center for Program Development, Inc.
Poses four basic questions about assessment in adult education: how to define literacy; how to determine appropriate class level for learners; how to measure learner gains; and what other forms of assessment are available to teachers. Examines the issues surrounding each of these questions through a review of current research and an analysis of adult education policies at the New York State Education Department (SED). Also examines the importance of learners' goals in relation to assessment.
http://www.hudrivctr.org/apmg/contents.htm

Assessment Special Collection
National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)
Links learners, instructors, and administrators to an extensive compilation of online materials, resources, and relevant links on learner assessment. Covers a variety of assessment types and instruments.
http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment/

Literacy Links Newsletter: Learner Assessment
Texas Adult Literacy Clearinghouse, Texas Center for Adult Literacy and Learning (TCALL), September 1998, Volume 3, No. 1
Collection of articles on learner assessment in adult education. Topics range from project-based assessment to alternative assessments and general issues in teaching adult learners. Articles written by researchers, practitioners, and program administrators.
http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/newsletr/sep98/sep98i.htm

National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL)
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics
Administered in 2003, the NAAL assessed the English literacy skills of a nationally representative sample of adults throughout the U.S. Site presents key findings from the assessment, information on the study's history and framework, and an overview of the assessment's four components—basic reading skills, health literacy, prison literacy, and state literacy. Also links to four webcast presentations on the NAAL.
http://nces.ed.gov/naal/

A Review of Statewide Learner Competencies and Assessment Systems
M. Kutner, L. Webb, and N. Matheson, Pelavin Institute for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, 1996
Analyzes efforts in eleven states to create statewide curriculum, learner competencies, and assessment systems. Presents information on the development process of the systems, examples of learner competencies and corresponding curriculum guides, sample assessment tools, and evaluation methods from each state.
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Assessing Basic Learning Competencies in Youth and Young Adults in Developing Countries: Analytical Survey Framework and Implementation Guide
UNESCO and International Literacy Institute, September 1999
Report from workshop co-sponsored by the International Literacy Institute (ILI) and UNESCO to understand issues surrounding basic learning competencies (BLCs). Defines BLCs and provides a sampling and survey design, an assessment model, and framework for implementation and capacity building. Designed for developing countries, but focuses on inexpensive and adaptable strategies for assessment of basic learning competencies that may be applicable to adult education programs in diverse cultural contexts.
Download/view: PDF (238KB)

Assessing Mathematical Knowledge of Adult Learners: Are We Looking At What Counts?
J. Cumming, I. Gal, and L. Ginsberg, National Center on Adult Literacy (NCAL) Technical Report TR98-05, 1998
Presents thirteen guidelines for evaluating mathematics assessments in adult education. Examines research on development of mathematical and numeracy skills that adults need in daily life.
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Cognitive Reading Assessment for Low Literate Adults: An Analytic Review and New Framework
J. Sabatini, R. Venezky, P. Kharik, and R. Jain, National Center on Adult Literacy (NCAL), 1995
Presents model developed by researchers that combines classic achievement tests and cognitive assessment. Longitudinal study measures development of reading skills of participants in various settings, including correctional education, ABE, GED, tutoring programs and public job programs. Provides rationale for use of cognitive assessment and information on what the authors consider basic cognitive processes.
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Creating Meaningful Performance Assessments
S. Elliot, ERIC Digest E531 (ED381985), 1995
Outlines issues of reliability and validity in performance-based assessments based on research. Also provides tips to instructors on how to align curriculum and instruction with a performance assessment system.
http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-1/creating.htm

Equipped for the Future Assessment Report: How Instructors Can Support Adult Learners Through Performance-Based Assessment
S. Ananda, WestEd, National Institute for Literacy (NIFL), 2000
Introduces adult education instructors to performance assessment methods and tools to help measure learners' progress relative to the Equipped for the Future Content Standards. Describes key characteristics and examples of effective performance-based assessments and suggests how instructors might use such tools to evaluate adults' knowledge, skills and abilities. Demonstrates how performance assessment can be integrated into instruction and accountability systems.
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Performance Assessments for Adult Education: Exploring the Measurement Issues
R. Mislevy and K. Knowles, Committee for the Workshop on Alternatives for Assessing Adult Education and Literacy Programs, Board on Testing and Assessment (BOTA), 2002
Report on December 2001 conference to discuss the use of performance-based assessment in adult education at the state and local levels. Summarizes key issues discussed at workshop. Chapters focus on designing assessment tools, collecting data for the National Reporting System, creating quality standards, and addressing assessment challenges in adult education. Entire book is available online by chapter.
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309084539/html/

Portfolio Assessment: Missing Link in Student Evaluation
B. Lankard Brown, ERIC Trends and Issues Alert, 1997
Looks at the trends in portfolio assessment and the issues that affect its use in adult education. Includes an annotated bibliography.
http://www.calpro-online.org/ERIC/textonly/docgen.asp?tbl=tia&ID=106