Assessment



Prior to May, 2012, the state of Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) math tests were in the objective multiple choice format. The student's answers were limited to A,B,C,D or F,G,H,J. Starting with May, 2012 the state then changed the format of some the SOL questions to Technology Enhanced Items (TEI). When the TEI were implemented, math scores in our county and across the state plummeted. One of the causes for the decrease in students' scores was the assessments used in the classroom. School districts across the state were using quarterly benchmarks with the same old multiple choice format. When the students encountered the TEI, they were unprepared on how to answer them. According to the state, the rational behind the TEI was to solicit higher level thinking skills from students. A strategy to encourage higher level thinking is incorporating open ended questions into assessments. Open-ended questions leads students to think analytically and critically.

Conestoga Valley's Elementary Math Wiki has a page on open ended questions on a variety of math concepts. [|Open Ended Math Questions Grades 3 -6]

The Franklin Institute Open Ended Math Questions [|Open Ended Questions Franklin Institute]