Formative Assessment Probes: Habitat Change: Formative Assessment of a Cautionary Word

Journal Article | February 2014

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue discusses word usage and learning about habitat.

Assessment in the Palm of Your Hand

Journal Article | August 2004

Project WHIRL, a three-year-grant from the National Science Foundation, enabled researchers from SRI International’s Center for Technology in Learning to collaborate with fourth- through ninth-grade teachers to create…

Formative Assessment Probes: With a Purpose

Journal Article | June 2011

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. In this month’s issue the author uses the stages of the SAIL Cycle to reflect upon and share some of the ways the probes published in Science and Children (…

Beyond Paper and Pencil Assessments

Journal Article | September 2000

Most paper-and-pencil assessments provide adequate insight into students’ ability and can help effectively guide instruction. A well-designed performance-based assessment propels a science program beyond this level of…

Perspectives: Assessing for Science Learning

Journal Article | February 2007

Often the word assessment conjures up the notion of tests or quizzes that occur at the end of a lesson or a unit. These summative assessments take place when an instructional sequence is completed, providing a summary…

Teaching and Assessing the Nature of Science

Journal Article | August 2011

Learn how to effectively incorporate the nature of science in your classroom. Nature of science issues should be addressed as questions, which encourages both teachers and students to think more deeply about the context…

Science 2.0: Picture This Assessment

Journal Article | December 2010

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the power of an image-filled science test! In a world rich with drag-and-drop, copy-and-paste digital imaging, today’s teachers have a number of options to create visually…

Science Teaching and International Assessments

Journal Article | October 2007

This article is an introduction to the international assessments Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and a review of results from…

Methods and Strategies: Deep Assessment

Journal Article | October 2015

This column provides ideas and techniques to enhance your science teaching. This month’s issue describes a science classroom assessment guide for analyzing students' written responses.

Editor's Note: Seamless Assessment

Journal Article | October 2013

Science and Children’s editor shares thoughts regarding the current issue.