Seven Main Messages

The presentations in the CAESL Tool Kit reflect seven key concepts or "main messages" concerning assessment, as articulated by CAESL. Below are seven questions to introduce these concepts, with the first sentence or sentences in a one-paragraph explanation summarizing the main messages. Click on each sentence for the full explanation, and to find tools that can be used to help communicate these messages.

1. What is the purpose of assessment?
The purpose of assessment is to gather evidence of student learning.

2. What is quality assessment?
Quality assessments are valid, reliable, and fair.

3. Are tests accurate?
Tests strive for accuracy, but all tests are fallible to some degree, so judgments or classifications based on them must be made with care.

4. Why are there different kinds of tests and assessment approaches? What are multiple measures?
Different kinds of tests and assessment approaches are needed to attain a more complete and accurate sense of student learning. The term "multiple measures" means not relying on only one test, and preferably using several different ways to assess learning.

5. What is accountability?
Accountability refers to the increasingly perceived need to gauge the overall effectiveness of education.

6. What is standardized testing?
Standardized tests are any tests that are administered and scored in a pre-specified, standard manner.

7. What is a parent's role in assessment?
Parents need to know about key assessment issues. Such knowledge can help parents gain information about their child's learning needs and perspective on their important role as parents.