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Classroom assessment has become a cornerstone of today's standards-based system of education. However, recent policy developments, professional standards, and variable assessment education have led to significant variability in teachers' approaches to assessment. The primary purpose of this research was to use a new instrument predicated on recently published classroom assessment standards -- the Approaches to Classroom Assessment Inventory -- to measure teachers' (a) approaches to assessment, (b) perceived skill in current assessment tasks and responsibilities, and (c) professional learning preferences and priorities. Based on 404 teachers from across North America, this study contributes initial evidence of how teachers approach classroom assessment with respect to four dimensions: Assessment Purposes, Assessment Processes, Assessment Fairness and Measurement Theory. Results from this study point to significant differences based on career stage and previous assessment education. The study concludes with four key implications for assessment research and practice.

Despite assessment-based accountability movements throughout educational systems in the United States, teacher assessment literacy continues to be an identified area of concern. Contributing to this concern is a dearth of research on preservice assessment education including both its curricular and pedagogical approaches. The purpose of this study was to examine pedagogies that support positive changes in teacher candidates' conceptions of assessment. Drawing on open-ended questionnaire data from teacher candidate participants, this study found four explicit pedagogical constructs that teacher candidates identified as instrumental in contributing to their learning about assessment. Specifically, these constructs were: (a) perspective-building conversations, (b) praxis activities, (c) modeling, and (d) critical reflection and planning for learning. In addition to providing practical descriptive examples of each pedagogical approach, this article concludes with suggestions for future research and practice in assessment education.

Within the current accountability context of education in the United States and Canada, there is a clear need to educate teachers on effectively using assessments to support, measure, and communicate student learning. Despite this need, assessment has historically been a neglected area in teacher education programs with comparatively little research to support assessment education structures. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to develop a preliminary assessment education framework as a foundation for future teacher education research and for designing theoretically informed assessment education that responds to multiple stakeholder perspectives. As a basis for this framework, three critical perspectives on assessment education are delineated (i.e., preservice policy perspective, teacher educator perspective, and teacher-candidate perspective) by reviewing current research, standards, and policies in fields of teacher education and assessment. The article concludes with recommendations for a research agenda aimed at further developing a scholarship for assessment education. (Contains 1 figure and 1 note.)

In this article, we look at three teacher education programs across three countries--Australia, Bhutan, and Canada--to examine how reflection is cultivated in pre-service teachers (also referred to as teacher candidates) through a pedagogy of self-assessment. We begin from the premise that a cornerstone of effective teaching is the capacity of an educator to reflect on their practice and to use their reflections for professional growth and development. Qualitative data were collected from teacher candidates from one teacher education program in each country to obtain the views and reflections of teacher candidates about the power and pedagogy of self-assessment to inform their learning and development. Analysis of results led to three overarching themes: (a) consistent learning priorities of pre-service teachers as they engage with reflection; (b) pedagogical features that leverage self-assessment strategies to enhance reflective practice; and (c) the possibilities for reflection to facilitate a professional stance towards learning. Each theme is discussed with consideration for teacher education practices and theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence and function of assessment in Canadian classrooms has changed in the past thirty years. Driving this continuously evolving landscape of classroom assessment is the fundamental belief that classroom assessment can be effectively used to monitor and support student learning and achievement. A central challenge amid this changing landscape is that teachers are required to keep pace with increasing assessment expectations, with research continuing to show that teachers are generally underprepared for the current context of assessment they may face. A potential root cause of this reported unpreparedness relates to teacher preparation in assessment during initial teacher education programmes. The purpose of this study is to examine approaches to assessment education across Canadian teacher education programmes. Drawing on data from teacher educators and teacher education documents (e.g. course syllabi), two research questions guided this study: 1. What are the programmatic provisions for assessment education across Canadian teacher education programmes? 2. What are teacher educators' approaches to assessment education? This study explores the landscape of assessment education across Canada through analyses of interviews with teacher educators (n = 25) and programme documentation drawn from 12 teacher education programmes. The analyses identified six overarching themes that characterise contemporary assessment education: (1) similar structures of assessment education; (2) limited time for assessment education; (3) inconsistent messaging; (4) focus of learning; (5) attitudes and explicitly modelling assessment; and (6) building explicit connections to teaching contexts across kindergarten – 12th grade (student ages 5–18). Understanding how teachers are educated in assessment is the first step in redressing teachers' low levels of assessment literacy. This exploratory pan-Canadian study provides a theoretical and descriptive foundation for future research into assessment education in Canada and elsewhere, with the aim of improving teacher education in assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational assessment is a complex area of teacher professionalism involving negotiation of purposes and practices within sociocultural contexts. Developing teachers' assessment literacy has thus become a priority across education systems. Additionally, student teachers' assessment approaches and confidence in their assessment competence may be influenced by their personality and the prevailing educational cultures. This cross-cultural study on student teachers in Canada and Germany examined the relationship between personality traits and assessment literacy. Regression analyses revealed that self-rated assessment literacy was supported by sense of self-efficacy, suggesting that experiences of success in teacher education are important in developing assessment literacy. While summative approaches to assessment were not associated with personality, formative approaches were particularly influenced by personal values such as empathy and composure. Overall, the findings were fairly stable across the two educational contexts. Implications for teacher education in the field of assessment include an emphasis on leveraging student teachers' values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Teacher candidates with a growth mindset prioritized assessment as learning and a differentiated approach to assessment fairness. • Teacher candidates with a mixed mindset prioritized assessment for learning and an equitable approach to assessment fairness. • Teacher candidates did not hold a fixed mindset. • Teacher educators should consider and address teacher candidates' mindsets when teaching about student assessment. While previous research has identified the significant influence of teachers' approaches to assessment on student learning, few studies have empirically explored why teachers approach assessment in particular ways. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between teacher candidates' approaches to assessment and their mindset towards learning at the end of their teacher education. Data were collected from 396 teacher candidates through the Approaches to Classroom Assessment Inventory and Dweck's Theories of Intelligence Inventory. Significant trends between mindset and teachers' approaches to assessment were observed, specifically, in regards to teacher candidates' mindset and approaches to assessment purpose and fairness. This paper provides empirical evidence that mindset is a component of teacher assessment literacy and argues that assessment mindset involves the specific linkage between teachers' mindsets toward learning and their approach to assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that there is considerable variability in teachers' approaches to assessment resulting in different learning cultures for students. The primary purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between teachers' approaches to assessment across a set of dimensions (including their conceptions of assessment purposes, processes, fairness, and measurement theory) and career stage. The results of this paper illustrate nuanced impacts of career stage on teachers' approaches to multiple dimensions of assessment and enable the generation of assessment profiles that provide empirical support for differences in teachers’ approaches to assessment both within and between career stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative Inquiry (CI) engages teachers to jointly inquire into a shared problem of practice. The majority of CI research presents qualitative case studies of individual collaborative inquires; few studies directly examine teachers' responses to CI through a large-scale study across an entire system of education. To examine teachers' perspectives on the impact and functionality of CI as professional learning, we surveyed 292 elementary teachers across 15 school districts and conducted 6 focus groups with teachers who had been involved in CI. We report the factors that enhance and inhibit teacher experiences of CI and significant outcomes from a teacher perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:In Canada, contemporary collaborative professional learning models for educators utilise multiple forms of evidence to inform practice. Commonly, two forms of evidence are prioritised: (a) research-based evidence and (b) classroom-based evidence of student learning. In Ontario, the integration of these two forms of evidence within professional learning is increasingly facilitated by ‘middle leaders’ – school district level educators who support system change through sustained school- and classroom-embedded professional development with teachers. Purpose:This study investigated the role of the middle leader in supporting teachers’ use of research- and classroom-based evidence within the context of collaborative professional learning. It was guided by the following research questions: (a) What is the capacity of middle leaders to use research- and classroom-based evidence within professional learning contexts? (b) What challenges do middle leaders encounter in using research- and classroom-based evidence within professional learning contexts? and (c) How do middle leaders develop their capacity for evidence use within professional learning contexts? Programme Description:The context for this study was a three-year networked professional learning project that included nine school districts in Ontario, Canada. An evidence-based collaborative inquiry approach was used to explore the common goal of improving mathematics teaching and learning across the nine districts. Participants:A purposeful sample of 30 middle leaders (i.e. system facilitators) and 54 teachers (36 Primary/Junior school teachers [student ages 4–11] and 18 Intermediate/Senior school teachers [student ages 12–18]) across the nine school districts was selected based on these educators’ high degree of engagement in the project and willingness to participate in data collection. System facilitators were relative experts in mathematics instruction and provided differentiated and embedded support in mathematics pedagogy to school inquiry teams (i.e. school administrators and selected teachers), responsive to their local needs and goals. Design and Methods:A qualitative approach was used, comprising focus groups conducted at the end of each project year with study participants. Data collection yielded 27 system facilitator focus groups (nine per year) and 27 teacher focus groups (also nine per year), each transcribed verbatim. Findings:Standard thematic coding of focus group data was used to elucidate four emergent themes across system facilitators and teachers: (a) realising the need for data literacy in the construction of classroom evidence, (b) challenges to evidence use, (c) support enabling evidence use and (d) changing attitudes about evidence. Overall, findings indicated that both middle leaders and teachers required data literacy to use, successfully, classroom evidence within a collaborative inquiry. Although middle leaders encountered challenges to facilitating teachers’ classroom evidence use in collaborative inquiry, they developed their own data literacy through regular cross-district middle leader learning sessions and targeted support from pedagogical and research experts. While both middle leaders and teachers shifted their attitudes and practices with respect to classroom evidence use within the project, this finding did not extend to their critical interrogation of research evidence sources (i.e. research literacy). Conclusions:Middle leaders play a central role in promoting evidence use within networked collaborative professional learning. Diverse strategies are needed to support middle leaders’ use of both research- and classroom-based evidence throughout collaborative inquiry cycles, to inform and monitor classroom, school, district and regional impacts. While increased data literacy may enhance educators’ use of classroom evidence, it may not directly impact their uptake of research to inform their collaborative inquiries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented with topics including importance of assessment in teacher education and self-reports on the development of assessment competence, need for teachers to account for student learning, and increasing emphasis on teaching standards and accountability.

Teacher assessment literacy has become a central priority across many educational systems in North America and elsewhere in response to growing accountability demands. Although many scholars have aimed to measure teacher assessment literacy, recent research has identified that current assessment literacy instruments do not fully reflect current transformations in the assessment landscape and remain predicated on dated standards for teacher classroom assessment practice. Given significant shifts in classroom assessment over the past 20 years, the purpose of this article is to construct a reliable instrument reflective of contemporary assessment practices and contexts. Specifically, this article describes our instrument development process including construct validation and reliability testing with more than 400 teachers. The result of this research is the Approaches to Classroom Assessment Inventory, which can be used by researchers and practitioners to support teacher assessment literacy in relation to the current accountability framework evident across educational systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the challenges associated with promoting and modeling assessment for learning within initial teacher education programs. Based on their experiences teaching in a variety of higher education institutions within Canada and the United States and on a critical synthesis of literature, the authors identify three broad constraints that contribute to the current theory--praxis divide. Specifically, the article outlines temporal, programmatic, and institutional constraints that typically undermine the spirit of assessment for learning within initial teacher preparation programs. After documenting these constraints, the paper concludes with a research agenda for aimed at promoting more effective integration of assessment for learning in teacher education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses a report within the issue on topics including the explanation of relationship between curricular theories and teacher education; the effects of curriculum theories in classrooms; and courses delivered by curriculum theory.

The majority of teacher education programs in North America require elementary-teacher candidates to complete separate courses in curriculum subject areas. This model to teacher education limits candidates’ readiness to engage in interdisciplinary teaching and focuses preservice curriculum on content-specific pedagogies rather than on general, developmentally appropriate pedagogical practices. The purpose of this study was to explore an alternative approach to the preparation of elementary teachers. Specifically, this article examines the benefits and challenges of an integrated curriculum approach. Qualitative data were collected through a survey and focus group with 56 teacher candidates and interviews with 3 course instructors. Findings suggest that an integrated approach contributes to stronger relationships, broader conceptions of integration, greater emphasis on pedagogy, and enhanced efficiency in teaching. Challenges related to perceptions of content coverage and instruction expertise were also identified. Findings from this research provide a basis for reconceptualizing elementary-teacher education toward an integrated approach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In response to the existing accountability movement in the United States, a plethora of educational policies and standards have emerged at various levels to promote teacher assessment competency, with a focus on preservice assessment education. However, despite these policies and standards, research has shown that beginning teachers continue to maintain low competency levels in assessment. Limited assessment education that is potentially misaligned to assessment standards and classroom practices has been identified as one factor contributing to a lack of assessment competency. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to analyze the alignment between teacher education accreditation policies, professional standards for teacher assessment practice, and preservice assessment course curriculum. Through a curriculum alignment methodology involving two policy documents, two professional standards documents, and syllabi from 10 Florida-based, Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education–certified teacher education programs, the results of this study serve to identify points of alignment and misalignment across policies, standards, and curricula. The study concludes with a discussion on the current state of assessment education with implications for enhancing teacher preparation in this area and future research on assessment education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this research was to explore changes in teacher candidates’ confidence in assessment as a foundation for promoting valid teacher judgements on student learning. Based on a sample of 48 teacher candidates enrolled in a semester-long measurement course at one teacher education programme in Florida, this survey-based study provided evidence that teacher candidates can develop confidence in assessment whilst deepening their conceptions of assessment. The majority of teacher candidates expanded their conception of assessment from one based solely on testing to one that recognised multiple forms of assessment that serve varying purposes. Simultaneously, teacher candidates expressed greater confidence in practical assessment approaches and factors related to assessment praxis. Based on study findings, we argue that pre-service teacher education has a critical role to play in promoting assessment literacy in beginning teachers and providing a foundation for teachers’ continued learning about assessment throughout their careers. The paper concludes with implications for future research in the area of assessment education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting inclusivity is a core aim for many teacher education programmes throughout the UK, USA, Canada and other highly diverse nations. However, despite this aim, teacher education programmes continue to face challenges in preparing teachers who feel confident in addressing issues of diversity and inclusivity in their classrooms. The purpose of this research was to present an in-depth examination of how one initial teacher education programme coherently promotes inclusivity through various pre-service programme structures and experiences. Data were collected from four senior programme administrators, 10 faculty members and 25 teacher candidates via interviews, focus groups and professional development journals. Results provided a complex analysis of programme coherence related to the multiple ways in which inclusivity was interpreted and experienced within the teacher education programme. Specifically, three different interpretations of inclusivity were identified across participant groups: integrative, dialogical and transgressive. Each of these interpretations were manifested in varied ways through programme structures of field-based placements, curriculum and pedagogies. Based on this analysis, the paper concludes by identifying critical issues related to the preparation of inclusive educators as a foundation for future research and teacher education development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is increasing concern over disengagement of teacher candidates during on-campus periods of pre-service programs due to the perceived disconnect between educational theory and practice. In response, teacher education has been called to engage candidates in praxis through authentic learning. In this paper, we bring together the fields of teacher education, authentic learning, and arts-based learning to articulate a means of enhancing pre-service programs. Specifically, this paper documents and analyzes the process of engaging teacher candidates in an authentic learning experience of a musical theatre production. Data collected from 30 teacher candidates through rehearsal observations, a post-production questionnaire, and focus group interviews indicated that participation created a sense of community and belonging, as well as developed skills necessary to carry forward art-based learning activities into their teaching careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the standards-based movement in education there is an increased need for teacher competency in the area of student assessment and evaluation. This study examines assessment education at one pre-service teacher education program in Ontario, Canada. Through a questionnaire administered to 288 teacher candidates, this study identified teacher candidates' perceived confidence levels in assessment practice, theory, and philosophy. These teacher candidates also provided their views towards assessment topics that it is important to include in a pre-service educational assessment course. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and analysis of variance were used to analyse questionnaire responses. In general, findings support the need for direct instruction in assessment with specific topics identified (e.g. reporting achievement, modifying assessments, developing constructed-response items, item reliability, validity, articulating a philosophy of assessment, etc.) as important to developing teacher assessment literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher candidates are required to learn substantial fundamental and practical knowledge often within short, fast-paced initial teacher education (ITE) programs. This study examined assessment education through a case study of 35 teacher candidates enrolled in an assessment/evaluation concentration at one Canadian institution. Using a slow movement framework with Fink's (2013) significant learning experiences taxonomy, pedagogies were analyzed that provoked slow and significant learning. Findings from multiple data sources revealed trends in significant learning across program phases and pedagogical conditions, including authentic course assessments, cycles of coursework and placements, and collaboration. Directions for future research and ITE programming are provided. • Supportive cycles of relational and practical learning experiences are needed for deepening assessment learning. • Assessment approaches shifted to research-based practices via coursework/practicum cycles and peer/mentor feedback. • Findings confirmed Fink's (2003) findings that significant learning involves interactive and non-hierarchical experiences. • Data suggest teacher candidates need more explicit attention on learning how to learn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed teacher candidates' approaches to classroom assessment, self-perception of assessment competence, motivation for completing teacher education, and assessment education experiences at the end of their teacher education program. Through latent class analysis, three subgroups of teachers were identified: eager , contemporary , and hesitant assessors. Membership to each class was further characterized by perceived relevance of classroom assessment, motivation for pursuing teacher education, methods of assessment education, and teacher certification. Results from this study support the notion that teacher candidates' approaches to assessment should not be viewed as a stable characteristic, but one shaped by learning experiences, context, and personal dispositions. • Through latent class analysis, three subgroups of teachers were identified: eager , contemporary , and hesitant assessors. • Membership was determined by both individual and contextual factors. • Approaches to assessment should not be viewed as a stable characteristic. • Approaches to assessment are shaped by learning experiences, context, and personal dispositions. • Teacher education should consider grouping students according to approaches to assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]