Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW DOMAIN B 1

Literature Review Domain B

Steven Bambauer

National University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for

TED 690Capstone Course

Professor Nanci Hanover

LITERATURE REVIEW DOMAIN B 2

Abstract

The California Teacher Performance Expectations (TPE) Domain B Assessing

Student Learning through TPE 2: Monitoring Student Learning During

Instruction and TPE 3: Interpretation and use of Assessment is summarized.

The article Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment by Paul

Black and Dylan William is summarized with a focus on the importance of formative

assessments. Domain B and the Article are then compared to discuss how the

information contained in the article can be used to meet the

standards/expectations set out in Domain B. Finally, a look at assessments

in general is provided.
LITERATURE REVIEW DOMAIN B 3

Literature Review Domain B and Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through

Classroom Assessments.

Domain B: Assessing Student Learning

TPE2: Monitoring Student Learning During Instruction
TPE3: Interpretation and use of Assessments

Domain CB, TPE 2 and TPE 3 look to the teacher to know the progress that their students are

making through observation and assessments. Within TPE 2 teachers are required to use

ongoing multiple and, where appropriate, differentiated assessment options to collect evidence of

individual and whole class learning (California Teaching Performance Expectations, 2013 p.

12). TPE 3 discusses the need for a teacher to provide assessments at varying levels of difficulty

while also being able to administer state required exams and accommodations required of special

needs students. The main theme of Domain B is the need for teachers to know their students so

they can track progress and issues so that their students are prepared for their work. In addition,

teachers must also be able to explain to both students and their families what the assessments are

and how they will help the student achieve academic success.

Article Summary

This article focuses on the assessments that a teacher provides to students that provides

information to be used as feedback to modifying teaching and learning activities. (Brown 1998,

p. 2) The authors through their research believe that they are able to provide that (i) formative

assessment raises standards, (ii) there is still room for improvement, and (iii) we have indicators

of how formative assessment can be improved. The article does a good job of putting into place

the steps that would need to be taken to improve standards through the use of assessments but at
LITERATURE REVIEW DOMAIN B 4

the same time they are practice in their understanding that change, especially a fundamental one

like the suggestions provided, happens slowly through professional development and

implementation of best practices.

Relationship between Domain B and the Article

Domain B TPE 2 and 3 focus on the need to use assessments and know your students to

have a successful classroom where students are actually learning from the material that is

presented to them. The article notes up front the importance of this concept but goes further by

explaining that this can only be achieved when a teacher is willing to constantly learn and make

adjustments, over semesters, lessons, and even while in the classroom. Students need a living

teaching environment where class level and individual changes are made as the teacher checks

for understanding and reviews formative assessments.

Assessments in General

Assessments can be both formal and informal and are necessary to determine the growth

that a student has made. Teachers must not only be willing to vary their assessments and teaching

to meet the needs of their students after the fact but they must also be willing to provide different

assessments to different students at the same time to meet the needs of all of the students in their

class and provide those students the best opportunity for learning. Assessments if done

appropriately and with providing student ample information and knowledge to be prepared for

formal ones that will be the basis of the students grades is a way to improve standards and set

new best practices for others to follow.

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References

California Teaching Performance Expectations. (2013, March). Commission on Teacher

Credentialing. Retrieved from http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/standards/adopted-

TPEs-2013.pdf.

Black, P. & WIlliam, D. (1998). Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom

Assessment. Phi Delta Kappa 13pp.