Analyzing Student Work to
Inform Our Practice and Improve Student Learning
2015 Symposia
English Learner Achievement: Our Collective Responsibility
Session Outcomes
1. Understand the importance of knowing your purpose and expectation for each assessment
2. Engage in a process for analyzing student work that provides information for instruction as
well as student feedback
Agenda
♦ Welcome and overview of the session
♦ Assessment as Part of Continuous Improvement
♦ Knowing Your Purpose and Expectations
♦ Analyzing Student Work
•
Implications for Teacher Practice
♦ Analyzing Student Work
• Implications for Student Feedback
♦ Closing
• Ticket Out the Door
w
they kno
t
a
th
t
e
g
ny tar
.
can hit a
ts
n
e
for them
d
ll
tu
ti
s
S
s
d
n
d that sta
about an
gins
Rick Stig
Science
Task Analysis for Production
Student Learning Goal – For what content and language will students be held accountable?
Students will understand the Big Bang Theory and three types of evidence supporting it by describing the
theory and supporting evidence in a brief four-paragraph written response.
Sample Student Response – What do you expect students to say and/or write?
The Big Bang Theory states that the universe began as a single point of super hot, super dense energy. Since
that initial moment, the universe has been expanding. Throughout that process, atoms were created as
particles collided and fused together to form elements. The Big Bang Theory is supported by scientific
evidence including observations of red-shift, cosmic background radiation, and the abundance of light
elements as opposed to heavier ones.
Red-shift is best described as the phenomenon that consists of changes in the wavelength of light as the
object emitting the light moves away from the observer. The wavelength is stretched and becomes redder
than it would be otherwise. Galaxies we observe show this red-shift effect. This means that they are moving
away from us. Many experts claim that this red-shift supports the Big Bang Theory which states that the
universe is expanding from a single point.
Cosmic background radiation is best described as radiation left over from the big bang as the universe
expanded and cooled. The uniformity of this background radiation in the visible universe suggests that it was
spread throughout space during the inflation and subsequent cooling of the Big Bang.
The abundance of lighter elements (i.e. helium and hydrogen) also supports the Big Bang Theory. This view
is based on the theory that the matter of the universe was too hot to form atoms and elements at first.
However, as the universe expanded and the matter cooled, particles combined to form simple, light elements
such as hydrogen and helium. Therefore, scientists would expect to find lighter elements in more abundance
than heavier elements in the universe and that is precisely what has been observed. Heavier elements were
created through fusion, often in stars, or during the explosion of a supernova.
The observations of red-shift, cosmic background radiation, and the abundance of certain light elements such
as hydrogen and helium work together to provide strong evidence for the Big Bang Theory.
Function – Which language function(s) will students be expected to use?
2 Cause and Effect
£ Proposition and Support
1 Compare and Contrast
£ Sequencing
3 Description and Elaboration
Bricks – What content-specific language will students be expected to know and use?
Big Bang Theory, universe, matter, atoms, fusion, red-shift, wavelengths, cosmic background, radiation,
elements, supernovas
Mortar – What functional words and phrases will students be expected to know and use?
Proposition and Support: suggests that, many experts claim, these views are based on
Description & Elaboration: best described as
Sequence: began as, since then, throughout
Science Written Response Rubric
The Big Bang Theory
Scientific knowledge
Accurate description of the Big Bang
Theory and the following three types of
scientific evidence supporting the
theory: red-shift, cosmic background
radiation, and the abundance of light
elements Writing
skills
The organization of ideas and sentence
structure used help the reader
understand the scientific claim and
evidence
Mortar
Language
Bricks
Content
Criteria Use of appropriate content vocabulary,
phrases, and clauses:
Big Bang Theory, universe, matter, atoms, fusion, red-­‐shift, wavelengths, cosmic background, radiation, elements, supernovas
Use of functional academic language and
formal style with an emphasis on
proposition and support phrases:
many experts claim, these views are based on, suggest that 4 3 2 Demonstrates a
thorough and critical
understanding of the
three types of
scientific evidence
supporting the Big
Bang Theory;
effectively integrates
appropriate examples
throughout the essay Demonstrates a sound
understanding of the
three types of
scientific evidence
supporting the Big
Bang Theory; chooses
adequate examples for
each of the supporting
paragraphs Shows some
understanding of the
three types of
scientific evidence
supporting the Big
Bang Theory, but
misconstrues certain
aspects; develops ideas
with some facts and
general details Demonstrates poor
understanding of the
three types of
scientific evidence
supporting the Big
Bang Theory; utilizes
generalizations
without adequate
support Clear organization and
sentence structure help
to make transparent
the scientific reasoning
Organization and
sentence structure
generally help the
reader make sense of
the text
Organization and
sentence structure are
adequate to convey
meaning, but lack
precision
Poor organization and
sentence structure
impede the reader’s
understanding of the
explanation
Writing is marked by a
thoughtful and fluent
use of content
vocabulary, learned
phrases, and clauses Writing includes
appropriate use of
content vocabulary,
phrases, and clauses Demonstrates adequate
use of content
vocabulary, phrases,
and clauses Has limited skill in
using content
vocabulary, phrases,
and clauses Explores the topic with
fluent use of a range of
academic language
and consistently writes
in a formal style with
sentence variety Displays sound use of
a variety of academic
words and phrases and
generally writes in a
formal style Uses some academic
language, but may
disregard some of the
more formal stylistic
choices; may repeat
familiar academic
words too often Neglects or misuses
academic language,
which detracts from
the formal style 2015 Symposia
Analyzing Student Work
1 ©
Science
Student #1
The big bang theory is that the universe began as a single point, small, super hot, super
dense energy. Since then it has been expanded outward creating matter. Throughout this
process.
The red-shift is best described as the further away an object is from earth, the longer the
light waves are stretched and the redder it looks. Many experts claim that the universe must have
been smaller in the past.
Cosmic background radiation is best described as the radiation left over from the big bang
as the universe cooled. Many experts claim that if the universe was hot in the start, then universe
should be cooling down.
Abundance of light elements is best described as atoms form when sub-atomic particles
collide. Many experts claim that the universe is filled with hydrogen and helium and fussion
produces small amounts of heavy elements.
2015 Symposia
Analyzing Student Work
Science
Student #2
The big bang theory is that the universe began as a single point of infinitely small, super
hot and dense energy. Throughout this process of the energy expanded outward creating matter.
Red shift is best described as further away an object is from Earth the longer the light waves are
stretched and the redder it looks. This suggests that the universe must have been smaller in the
past. Cosmic background radiation is best described as radiation left over from the big bang as
the universe cooled. Many experts claim that if the universe was hot in the start then universe
should be cooling down. But scientists should still be able to see the left over radiation. The
Abundance of light Elements is best described as the universe is filled with Hydrogen and helium
and Fusion produces small amounts of heavy element. These views are based on The first atoms
formed when sub-atomic particles collided. This created atoms of the light elements (with low
atomic numbers) like Hydrogen (H) and Helium (He).
2015 Symposia
Analyzing Student Work
Science
Student #3
The Big Bang theory is that the universe began as a single point of infinetly small, super
hot, super dense energy. Since then it has been expanding outwards. Throught this process
matter was created.
Red-shift is best described as the further away an object is from earth, the longer the light
waves are stretched. Many experts claim that the universe expanding suggest that it must have
been smaller in the past.
Cosmic background radiation is best described as radiation left over from the Big Bang.
The universe cooling suggest that it was once hot.
Abundance of light elements is best described as the universe being filled with Hydrogen
& Helium, & fusion produces small amounts of heavy elements. Many experts claim that
Hydrogen & Helium were created as subatomic particles collide.
2015 Symposia
Analyzing Student Work
Science
Student #4
The big bang theory states that the universe began as a single point of infinitely small,
super hot, super dense energy. Since then it has been expanding. Throughout this process,
matter is created.
Red-shift is best described as the further away an object is from earth, the longer the light
waves are stretched and the redder it looks. Many experts claim that Redshift shows objects
moving away, which provide evidence for an expanding universe.
Cosmic background radiation is best described as radiation left over from the big bang as
the universe cooled. Many experts claim that if the universe is cooling down, then it must have
started off hot.
The abundance of light elements is best described as the universe is filled with hydrogen
and helium and fusion produces small amounts of heavy elements. Many experts claim that
hydrogen and helium were created as subatomic particles collided.
2015 Symposia
Analyzing Student Work
Science
Student #5
The big bang theory is that the universe began as a single point of infinitely small, super
hot, super dense energy. Since then it has been created in a single event called the big bang.
Throughout this process, a single point of energy expanded outward creating matter.
Red shift is best described as the further an object is from earth, the longer the light
waves are stretched and the redder it looks. The big bang theory suggest that the universe must
have been small in the past.
Cosmic background radiation is best described as left over radiation from the big bang as
the universe cools. Many experts claim that if the universe is cooling down, it must have started
off hot.
Abundance of light is best described as the universe is filled with Hydrogen and Helium
and fussion produces small amounts of heavy elements. These views are based on how
Hydrogen and Helium were created as sub-atomic particles collided.
2015 Symposia
Analyzing Student Work