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The SEPjr Program

Assessment Strategies for CS: Standards & Student Outcomes

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Objectives

  • Gain a better understanding of how to assess a student’s understanding of computer science concepts and practices.
  • Learn how to use student outcomes and CS Standards to develop assessment tools.
  • Learn how to apply formative assessment strategies for computer science education.
  • Learn how to apply summative assessment strategies for computer science education.

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Reflection Questions

  1. How can you assess a student’s understanding of computer science concepts and practices?
  2. How can you use the state standards and student outcomes to assess a student’s understanding of computer science?
  3. What do formative assessments look like for computer science education?
  4. What do summative assessments look like for computer science education?

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Computer Science is the…

Practice of…

Concepts from…

Perspectives

Analyzing the impacts of computing

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Prototyping projects connected to interests

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Communicating understanding of concepts

Abstraction

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Algorithms

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Programming

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Data

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Networks

Explorer

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Creator

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Innovator

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Citizen

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Assessment Strategies for CS

Standards & Student Outcomes

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Assessment Strategies for CS

  • Computer science lessons offer multiple opportunities for informal and formal assessments.
  • It is important to create consistent and valuable assessments that not only help the teacher but also help the student evaluate his/her work.
  • Check for the student’s understanding of the computer science concepts and practices. Seen from the perspective of the Explorer, Creator, Innovator or Citizen.
  • Provide computer science artifacts documenting student’s work & demonstrate a growth of understanding.

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Assessment Strategies for CS

  • Allow for teachers to gauge where a student’s knowledge of computer science is before, during and after being introduced to a topic.
  • It communicates to the student the value of their work and understanding.
  • To make learning meaningful and lasting, we assess students using a variety of methods, such as self-assessment, peer assessment, presentation, synthesis, and reflection.
  • Emphasizing the process over the product.

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CS Standards & Student Outcomes

  • Before creating an assessment strategy or tool, it is important to identify what standards and outcomes will be used to identify student understanding.
  • Student outcomes should be connected to computer science standards and align with the CS Perspectives, Practices & Concepts.
  • Teachers can create and use assessments that result in student artifacts that not only document the work, but also demonstrate a growth in understanding the content.

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NYS CS & DF Standards

  • Students must understand and know how to use digital technologies to fully participate in 21st Century life, work, and citizenship.
  • The vision for the standards is that every student will know how to live productively and safely in a technology-dominated world.
  • This includes understanding the essential features of digital technologies, why and how they work, and how to communicate and create using those technologies.

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New York State Standards

  • What CS/DF Standards will you be assessing?

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Blueprint Student Outcomes

  • The Student Outcomes provide examples of proficiencies gained through the study of computer science, articulated from the students’ point of view.
  • CS students' practice of each concept deepens and expands as meaningful CS content guide them from one perspective to the next.
  • What student outcomes align with your assessment(s)?

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Example: Guess The Algorithm

What is being assessed?

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Example: Algorithms & Programming [NYS]

  • An algorithm is a sequence of steps designed to accomplish a specific task. Algorithms can be translated into programs, or code, to provide instructions for computing devices.
  • Algorithms are central to programming. Programming is the process of designing and developing code to perform a specific task.

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Example: Algorithms & Programming [NYS]

  • It includes:
    • the transformation of an algorithm into a specific language that a computer can read and execute,
    • testing code under controlled conditions to ensure its accuracy,
    • debugging the code to resolve errors,
    • and producing documentation both for end users to understand how to use the program and for other developers to assist in following the logic within the program.

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  • K-1.CT.6 - Follow an algorithm to complete a task.
  • 2-3.CT.8 - Identify steps within a task that should only be carried out under certain precise conditions.
  • 4-6.CT.7 - Identify pieces of information that might change as a program or process runs.

Example: Guess The Algorithm

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Example: Algorithms [Blueprint]

Algorithms are a generalized and repeatable sequence of instructions that achieve a particular purpose and output, given a set of inputs. It's important to understand when, why and how to implement an algorithm, and to consider who or what might be affected.

Sub-concept

Definition

Algorithm Design

Instructions should be general, clear, well-formed, complete, and capable of being executed as intended without confusion.

Control Flow

The order in which steps of an algorithm are executed; determined by logical constructs such as IF statements, loops and calls to other procedures.

Inputs, Variables, and Outputs

How data is passed into (inputs) manipulated by, used within (variables) and returned from the algorithm (outputs).

Applications

Understanding where, when, why and how to apply algorithms and which algorithm to apply in a given context.

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Practices

Programming

Analyze

Describe more than one set of instructions that might complete a task.

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2 - Examining

Prototype

Explain why I used specific instructions to complete a task.

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3 - Planning

Communicate

Compare and contrast my instructions with other instructions that complete the same task.

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4 - Discussing

As an Explorer, I can…

Example: Algorithm [Student Outcomes]

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Practices

Programming

Analyze

Describe how instructions can have different outputs depending on inputs.

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3 - Interpreting

Prototype

Demonstrate the benefit of using an event, conditional or loop in my prototype.

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3 - Planning

Communicate

Compare and contrast how conditionals or loops were used in classmates’ prototypes.

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4 - Discussing

As an Creator, I can…

Example: Algorithm [Student Outcomes]

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Check for Understanding

  • Describe more than one set of instructions that might complete a task.

Pre-Assessment

  • Demonstrate the benefit of using an event, conditional or loop in my prototype.

Example: Guess The Algorithm

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Example: Guess The Algorithm

Is there any changes to this task to help better align the assessment to the standards or outcomes?

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Additional Standards Resources

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Next Steps

  • Review the New York State Computer Science & Digital Fluency Standards for your grade band(s)
  • Review how the CSforAll Blueprint breaks down Student Outcomes to support the CS Perspectives, Concepts & Practices.
  • Watch the next video in the series “Assessment Strategies for CS: Formative Assessments”.

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Check Us Out

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Checkout participating teachers learning, photos, and videos on social media! Use @CSForAllNYC #SEPjrNYC

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Join The Conversation

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Join the SEPjr Microsoft Teams Group to help stay connected and up to date with resources, opportunities and much more.

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Thank you from the CS4All Team!

We look forward to supporting you and your cs program!