Assessing Student Understanding in Science: A Standards-Based K-12 Handbook

"This is a great book! It provides real examples for teachers, school districts, and teacher education programs to assess science standards in the curriculum."
Fred Bartelheim, Professor
College of Education, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley 

"An abundance of practical assessment instruments at your fingertips! Checklists, rubrics, real-examples― it′s all fantastic!"
Mary Ann Sweet, School Counselor
Tomball Elementary School, TX

Finally―an accessible and practical approach to assessing science education!

Educators need a way to better assess science curriculum, teaching, and student learning to help our students become leaders, not just followers, in their technological future. Sandra Enger and Robert Yager, two experts in the field, provide the way.

Comprehensive but accessible―this book is packed full of methods for assessing the National Science Education Standards adopted by the National Research Council―the basis for most state and local standards. Alternative assessments, rubrics, grade level exemplars, and ideas for teachers to evaluate and improve their own curriculum and instruction make this practical hands-on guide a must.

This book addresses critical issues of assessment including:

• Criteria to measure student progress in the six domains of science: concepts, processes, applications, attitude, the nature of science, and creativity
• Assessing student learning
• Evaluating teaching practice
• Designing rubrics and scoring guides

Enger and Yager deftly weave together theory and real-life practice using examples created by teachers in the field. A rich resource section offers an in-depth glossary and examples and samples specific to grade levels. The book will be invaluable to individual teachers as well as to districts in developing district-wide assessment of state and local standards.

Sandra K. Enger is a faculty member at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and associate director of the Institute for Science Education. She teaches methods courses for preservice teachers in elementary science and also undergraduate and graduate assessment courses. As a professional development provider, she has worked with international teachers from Russia, the Ukraine, and multiple Trans-Eurasian countries. Her consulting work includes development of assessment materials, conducting project evaluations, and participation in alignment studies. She graduated from Winona State (MN) University with a BS in science and a master’s degree in biological sciences. Her PhD in science education was awarded by The University of Iowa. She has had extensive classroom experience at both secondary and university levels.

Robert E. Yager is professor emeritus of science education at The University of Iowa, where he also earned two graduate degrees. He has di­rected over 100 National Science Foundation projects and has served as chair for nearly 130 doctoral students. Yager has served as president for seven national professional organizations. He has been involved internationally with special ongoing projects in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey, and Estonia. Yager’s research interests and teaching are involved with science, technology, and society (STS), es­pecially in terms of it as an instructional reform effort and the other visions outlined in the National Science Education Standards. He continues to identify Exemplary Science Programs across the world.