by Melissa Hinshaw
PARRC, SBAC, STARR, MAP, ACT, SAT, PSAT…..OMG! Assessment acronyms are plentiful, as are the tests they represent, yet too often testing is misunderstood. Educators and parents need to be able to make sense of what assessments should be used and when. Students need to understand what their tests are measuring and how it affects them. Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development's goal is to guide educators, parents, and students through the landscape of balanced assessment for talent development.
Assessment has always played a role in education, because it is part of the teaching and learning process. In order to work effectively with students, educators need to identify what they already know and understand. CTD utilizes above-grade-level assessment, through Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS), which helps to more clearly define strengths—leading to improved teaching and learning outcomes.
How does it work?
Students across the country who are demonstrating achievement in the top 10%, compared to same-age peers, are encouraged to participate. Students may demonstrate their achievement on a nationally normed assessment, such as MAP or STAR, be recommended by an educator or parent, or by participating in advanced programming at school. The students register to take an “above-grade level” assessment through NUMATS. Third through sixth graders take the PSATTM8/9, while sixth through ninth graders take the SAT® or ACT®. Because these tests are designed for older students, and are not limited by grade-level content, the results provide insight into mastery of Common Core Standards and College and Career Readiness indicators.
What we find is that all students who score in the top 10% of their grade level are not performing equally. They have varying strengths, interests, and levels of content mastery. These differences, and what it means for instruction, are addressed in CTD’s guidance materials for creating talent development pathways.
The guidance materials available from NUMATS to families and educators explain how NUMATS scores can become actionable steps for advocacy and talent development. Each score report contains recommendations connected to a student’s scores and percentile rankings based on years of research conducted by CTD and others in the field of talent development. Included are suggestions about the types of programming that can provide appropriate levels of challenge through differentiation, acceleration, and other types of programming or placements. This guidance is intended to be used in connection with other data points (grades, previous assessments, current school programming, etc.) and the student’s areas of interest and talent.
While schools are often the first place to seek out learning opportunities, talent development results from a combination of learning experiences both inside and outside of a formal school setting.
If you are interested in learning more about CTD Assessment, please contact us at ctd@northwestern.edu.
