Introduction to Assessment/Measurement in Education

Brief Description:

The aim of this course is to provide an overview to the main statistical and measurement tools that are associated with interpretation of data from tests, including standardized educational tests. Participants will learn how to interpret test results.

Instructor(s):
Level: Introductory/Intermediate

Who Should Take This Course:

Anyone who is involved with or responsible for interpreting test scores.

Dates:
June 15, 2012 to July 13, 2012June 14, 2013 to July 12, 2013
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Registration:
Please read the syllabus tab, noting the prerequisites, text and software requirements.

Register Online -$499
Register Online -$399 (you must be affiliated with a college, university or high school)

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Introduction to Assessment/Measurement in Education

Aim of Course:

To provide an overview to the main statistical and measurement tools that are associated with interpretation of data from tests, including standardized educational tests. Participants will learn how to interpret test results. Basic statistical (descriptive) and measurement concepts (reliability and validity) are presented, along with discussions of issues such as specific tests, norms, and test bias.

Prerequisite(s):
No formal statistical or measurement course work background is required.
Course Program:

SESSION 1: Descriptive statistics Part 1

• Making tables and graphs out of frequency data
• Techniques for quantifying averages
• Techniques for quantifying variation
• Methods for reporting position/location within distributions
• Z-scores

SESSION 2: Descriptive statistics Part 2

• The normal distribution
• Linear transformations of scales
• Scatterplots of two variables
• The correlation coefficient
• Brief introduction to prediction

SESSION 3: Basic measurement concepts

• Reliability
• Standard error of measurement
• Validity
• Basic test construction
• Item analysis

SESSION 4: Specialized issues in standardized educational testing

• How norms are constructed and what they mean
• Tests that use the correction for guessing
• Test bias and how it is assessed
• Equating test forms
• What to look out for in statewide testing programs
• Issues raised by students in class (Note: this will vary from course offering to course offering)

Organization of the Course:

This course takes place over the internet, at statistics.com for 4 weeks. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor.

The course typically requires 15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials, work through exercises, and submit answers. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments, and you will receive individual feedback on your homework answers.

Credit:
Students come to The Institute for a variety of reasons:

1. You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or a record of completion.
2. You may be enrolled in PASS (Program in Advanced Statistical Studies) that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for a grade.
3. You may require a "Record of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's).

As you begin the class, you will be asked to specify your category.

This course offers continuing education units (CEU's). For those successfully completing the course (generally this means marks of 50% or better on the homework), 5.0 CEU's and a record of course completion will be issued by Statistics.com, upon request.

Course Text:

The course material will consist of online chapters (.pdf files) from Descriptive and Inferential Statistical Topics by Dennis Roberts (to be made available on the course web site), plus other course notes and internet links provided by the course instructor.

Software:

No statistical or measurement software is required, and the emphasis is on interpretation, not calculation. Many of the examples in the main text materials use Minitab, those with a strong interest in statistical calculation can download the FREE 30 day trial of the full package Minitab. Click here for a list of software used in various statistics.com courses, including Minitab.

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Yes, I want to register for:

Introduction to Assessment/Measurement in Education

Instructor(s):
Dates:
June 15, 2012 to July 13, 2012June 14, 2013 to July 12, 2013
Course Fee: $499
Academic Discounted Rate: $399

Before registering, please read the syllabus tab, noting the prerequisites, text and software requirements. When you click the register button, you will be taken to our secure transaction page.

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