[One-Minute Makeover] Algebra 1 • Topic 3 Assessment


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Previously…

The first post in the series is here. The previous post (Topic 2, Part 2) is here.

Algebra 1 • Topic 3 Assessment, Before

When I first drew up this assessment, my goals were to evaluate students’ ability at simplifying linear expressions and solving linear equations. Here’s what the two questions of Form A looked like:

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 8.50.22 PM

I had the same all-my-eggs-in-one-basket problem with this original Topic 3 assessment as I did in an earlier assessment. If students aced these two questions, I knew they were capable of what they ought to be able to do. However, if they missed one or both, I was stuck without much information. There was no gradation in the all-or-nothing results.

Another issue: the assessment focused entirely on procedural skills and demanded nothing from students in terms of demonstrating deeper conceptual understanding.

Algebra 1 • Topic 3 Assessment, After

As was the case with Topic 2 (detailed in posts here and here), I addressed the above concerns by lengthening the assessment quite a bit. The revised Topic 3 assessment weighs in at two pages and a total of ten questions.

In the first three questions, I try to get a read on whether students understand conceptually what a solution of an equation is. (For the record, what I’m looking for is something along the lines of “this value does/does not satisfy the equation,” along with numerical support—via substitution—of that claim.)

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 8.59.26 PM

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 8.59.33 PM

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 8.59.38 PM

After that, students move through a series of four increasingly difficult linear equations, giving me the leveled progression I was lacking in the original assessment that would help me distinguish the “almost there” from the “completely lost.”

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 9.04.09 PM

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 9.04.18 PM

Next up, an error-analysis/explain-your-reasoning style question:

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 9.05.49 PM

And to close, two more “solve” questions (including one at the same level of difficulty as the original Topic 3 assessment):

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 9.06.47 PM

Screen Shot 2014-01-19 at 9.06.52 PM

Wrap Up

The net result of the these changes is a much stronger assessment, with improvements in at least two categories. The new assessment (1) provides me with more specific insight about student strengths and weaknesses, and (2) demands more of students in the way of critical thinking and clear communication.

I fully expect that this new assessment could be improved in half a dozen ways. Part of the beauty of teaching (and writing many of my own lessons and all of my own assessments) is the opportunity for continual improvement over the years. This job will never leave me bored!

Is there anything in particular you liked about the improvements I already made to my Topic 3 assessment? Do you have a few more ideas for making it even better? Share away!


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Comments 4


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    Michael
    I really like question 3 but I wonder how many students clearly read those instructions. Have these been field-tested yet? I love the open-ended nature of that question in particular. I also always like the ‘find the error’ questions although I am not very good at writing them.


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    @mrdardy All of the assessments/questions that appear in this series are ones I’ve given to my students. Student performance on that question was mixed. Among those who did poorly, there seemed to be two groups: (1) Those who understood the basic idea of the question but ignored certain specific requirements (e.g., an equation involving addition and multiplication), and (2) Those who clearly didn’t understand what the question was asking.

    I wish I could think of a way to write it more clearly. The current form will have to do until I (or someone else, maybe you?) can think of a way to tweak the wording to make it more clear (without giving too much away).

    Maybe this:

    “The equation 2x+1=7 has a solution of x=3 and involves multiplication and addition.

    Please write an equation involving division and subtraction with a solution of x=4.”

    What do you think? Improvement, or a step backwards?

  3. Pingback: [One-Minute Makeover] Algebra 1 • Topic 4 Assessment | Reason and Wonder


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    I think that your version in the reply is a step forward. I wonder whether they could handle something like:
    Equations of the form ax + b = c involve both multiplication and addition. Solving this would require division and subtraction. Please write an equation involving multiplication and addition that has a solution of x = 4.


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