WORKSHOP ON

APPLICATION
PROJECT “ITEM
BANK”
WILLIAM G. BACANI, Ph.D.
Facilitator
References:
Rudner, Lawrence. Item Banking. The ERIC Clearing House on Assessment and
Evaluation.
Ward, Annie W. Guidelines for the Development of Item Banks. The Techne Group, Inc.
Mildred Murray-Ward, California Lutheran University and the Techne Group, Inc.
What is an Item
Bank?

An item bank is a
collection of test items
that may be easily
accessed for use in
preparing examinations.
What Can an Item
Bank Do?
.
1. Item entry and storage
2. Item retrieval for
reviewing items,
formatting test forms,
and editing and updating
items
3. Maintenance of item
history
What are the options
for setting up an
Item Bank?
1. Purchase of a Bank of
Items, along with the
software to operate it.
2. Purchase or Leasing of
Item Banking Software
with local development of
items
3. Local Development of
items
What are the steps in
item banking?
1. Item Entry and
.
Storage(method, graphics,
etc.)
2. Item Retrieval (review and
updating of items)
3. Maintenance of item
history (date of
administration, etc.)
4. Scoring and item analysis
5. Record and reports
ADVANTAGES OF
ITEM BANKING
.
1. New subtest and test can
be developed by drawing
items from the bank .

Note: Only quality items

shall be deposited in the item
bank.
ADVANTAGES OF
ITEM BANKING

2. It permits teachers to
deposit additional items to
be withdrawn as needed. It
may be LARGE DEPOSITS
(division/district) or small
deposits (school)
ADVANTAGES OF
ITEM BANKING
.
3. It saves a lot of time
and energy over
conventional test
development.
ADVANTAGES OF
ITEM BANKING

4. It helps establish a
language for discussing
curriculum goals and
objectives.
DISADVANTAGES OF
ITEM BANKING

.
A. Item banking and item
response theory is “not
cure-alls” for
measurement problems.
DISADVANTAGES OF
ITEM BANKING

B. It requires a great
deal of work in terms of
preparation and
planning, computer time
and expertise. However,
once item bank is
established , time, effort,
and cost are reduced.
STEPS IN ITEM BANKING
1. Planning for an Item
Bank
a. Identify what you have to
start an item bank
b. Identify what you hope to
accomplish
c. Create staff or personnel
for item writing, item
analysis, and computer
programs
 STEPS IN ITEM BANKING
2. Start-up activities
a. These involve
administrative activities and
data processing staff.
b. Calibrate for congruency
of test items with
competencies in the CGs.
STEPS IN ITEM BANKING
2. Start-up activities
c. Develop a chart of
competencies to be tested per
grading period, per subject,
per grade level.
d. Use a data based system for
calibration of items, and
storage.
STEPS IN ITEM BANKING
3. Running the Item
Bank
a. Two activities in
running the item bank:
• depositing the items
• withdrawing the items
STEPS IN ITEM BANKING
3. Running the Item
Bank
b. Evaluation of
potential items for
technical quality,
curriculum match,
potential bias.
STEPS IN ITEM BANKING
3. Running the Item
Bank
c. Categorize items
according to the level of
difficulty within and
across grade levels.
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
I. Introduction
A short background on the
importance of developing an Item
Bank as part of the providing TA in
instructional supervision
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
II. Vision
It tells what you dream for your
Division in terms of developing an
Item Bank for teachers to ensure
effective testing
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
III. Mission
It articulates your specific action
steps to bring your SDO to that
dream
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
IV. Objectives
These are written statements that
briefly describe tangible actions to
take that are based on a predefined
motive or mission.
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
V. Current State
It gives a brief description or
narration about the present status of
testing in your SDO, particularly the
practice(s) adopted in your Division
during the administration of periodic
examinations or achievement tests.
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
VI. Desired State
Based on the current status of
testing in your Division, how do you
want to improve its status? What
positive change do you want to
happen?
 Parts of the Application Project
(Narrative Component)
VII. Project Implementers
List of SDO participants to this
training, in addition to the
composition of the Testing
Committee