AERA Division H International: 2010

1. At the AERA 2011 conference we will have an International Committee organized session:

Formative Assessment: International Perspectives and Applications

Presenters:
Dylan Wiliam, Ph.D. -- Institute of Education, University of London
Chris Davison, Ph.D. -- University of New South Wales, Australia
Denny Way, Ph.D. -- Pearson, U.S.A.
Michael Flicek - Natrona County School District, Wyoming, U.S.A.
Discussant:
Lorrie Shepard -- University of Colorado at Boulder, CO

2. The international Committee offered help in language barriers and provided a "representative presentation" upon presenters’ request

3. We have a Division H - International Committee blog and a Google groups account that will be made known to all international members by advertising it more at the AERA 2011 conference:

http://aera-divh-international.blogspot.com

Future plans:

• Organize an international paper session from regular submissions for the 2011 program
• Organize an international themed poster series from accepted proposals
• Organize a meeting for international members early during the AERA convention
• Submit short articles to Reality Test on items of interest to international members
• Develop an award for "Best International paper" presented at the Div H Breakfast
• Construct a longer list of descriptors for research type appropriate for submission to Division H
• Place a handout with International Committee news at the Division H booth at each AERA conference that presents the International Committee news and gives more information of type of activities and also proposal submission topics appropriate for Division H
• Make a small video with VP talking and pictures across years at sessions, meetings, breakfast, etc., and burn on DVD and post at booth (free give away)
• Find a way to contact with international students – possibly through international faculty at their universities and encourage more submissions

International Perspectives on Assessment for Educational Accountability

Sponsor:

Division H - Research, Evaluation and Assessment in Schools
International Committee

Schedule Information:

Scheduled Time:
Tue, May 4 - 10:35am - 12:05pm

Building/Room:
Sheraton / Plaza Ballroom D

Session Participants:

Holding Accountability Assessment Systems Educationally Accountable

*Michael Michell (University of New South Wales)

The Role of Accountability Systems in Driving School Improvement: A Case Study

*Michael J. Flicek (Natrona County School District - Wyoming)

Educational Accountability in Ireland

*Eugene Wall (Mary Immaculate College)

Diagnostic Assessment and Education Accountability

*Diane Hui (University of Hong Kong )

Chair: Zsuzsanna R. Szabo (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Discussant:
Joseph M. O'Reilly (Mesa Public Schools)
Stephan Henry (REASolutions)

Abstract:

Worldwide assessment is used to measure academic achievement, and currently more often for education accountability purposes. The present symposium presents four international perspectives concerning education accountability: Europe (Ireland), Australia, Asia, and the United States. The Asian presentation revolves around an educational framework for development of a diagnostic assessment tool used for educational accountability purposes. A case study from U.S.A. will describe the benefit of using a judgment panel, versus a mathematical algorithm, concerning school accountability. The European perspective will present the effect of nationally high stakes assessment on educational accountability. The session concludes with the Australian paper which examines the problematic amalgam of three different forms of ‘external’ accountability and highlights the flawed assumptions and internal contradictions of accountability policy.

Session Summary

This session has as main objective to offer an international perspective on how assessment in education is used for educational accountability. The blend of case study and theoretical presentations about large national assessment measures and their use for educational accountability will provide a world-wide perspective on accountability.

Four international perspectives concerning education accountability will be presented in this session: Asia, the United States, Europe (Ireland), and Australia. The Asian presentation revolves around an educational framework for development of a diagnostic assessment tool used for educational accountability purposes. A case study from U.S.A. will describe the benefit of using a judgment panel, versus a mathematical algorithm, concerning school accountability. The European perspective will present the effect of nationally high stakes assessment on educational accountability. The session concludes with the Australian paper which examines the problematic amalgam of three different forms of ‘external’ accountability and highlights the flawed assumptions and internal contradictions of accountability policy.

The international perspective offered by this session will allow the audience to compare, contrast, and better understand the implications of assessment for educational accountability from the different perspectives across the world. Each paper presents implications for student learning and instruction, as well as use of assessment.

Structure of the session

Presenters:
1. Michael Michell - University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia