November 2, 2015

Tabb Middle School

US History I and II

STAFF DEVELOPMENT
One test of the correctness of educational procedure is
the happiness of the child.
-Maria Montessori

1. What is a Performance Assessment Performance assessment, also known as alternative or

authentic assessment, is a form of testing that requires students to perform a task rather than
select an answer from a ready-made list. For example, a student may be asked to explain
historical events, generate scientific hypotheses, solve math problems, converse in a foreign
language, or conduct research on an assigned topic. Experienced raters--either teachers or
other trained staff--then judge the quality of the student's work based on an agreed-upon
rubric.
2. Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z--OJBfw-Gw
3. Sample Performance Assessments:
a. Washington State: http://k12.wa.us/SocialStudies/Assessments/default.aspx
b. South Carolina: http://socialstudiesandcommoncore.weebly.com/
c. Illinois: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/ils/social_science/capd.htm
d. Idaho:
http://sd282.org/curriculum/curr/docs%5CSocialStudies%5CSecondary%5CGrade10U.S.History1%5CAssessment%5CPerformanceTasks.pdf
e. Virginia: Enhanced Scope and Sequence:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/history_socialscience/2008/le
sson_plans/index.shtml
4. VA Region 2 Database:
a. Schools in our area are adding ideas and activities to a database of performance
assessments.
b. https://sites.google.com/a/hampton.k12.va.us/region-ii-performance-assessments/
5. Please note Use caution when using others work. Even when selecting from our database.

November 2, 2015
Tabb Middle School
US History I and II

6. Further Reading and More Information:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/196021/chapters/What_is_PerformanceBased_Learning_and_Assessment,_and_Why_is_it_Important%A2.aspx
7. Adapt or Create: Planning teams will have time to work together to begin adapting or creating
a performance assessment to be used in the second quarter.
8. Share: Each planning team will share ideas created.