6/17/2014

A new study shows that a 20-minute classroom assessment can reliably measure classroom instruction and predict students’ standardized test scores. The assessment also provides immediate and meaningful feedback—making it an important new tool for understanding and improving instructional quality, according to researchers at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute FPG and the University of Rochester.

The EAR Protocol—short for Engagement, Alignment, and Rigor—already has been used in more than 100 schools, but this current study is the first to test its objectivity and ability to predict student learning as measured by standardized tests. Developed by the Institute for Research and Reform in Education, the 15-item tool focuses on three aspects of instruction: the engagement of students, how closely schoolwork aligns with state and local standards, and whether coursework is appropriately challenging.

“The assessment captures surprisingly complex and fundamental qualities of teaching,” said Diane Early, a scientist at FPG. “It’s easy to use, and 20 minutes is short enough for administrators to fit into the confines of their busy workday. And it’s adaptable for all grades and subjects, from math and English to art and physical education.”

Source: FPG Child Development Institute

Available at: http://fpg.unc.edu/news/quick-class-evaluation-captures-vital-signs-teaching