Assessment of Student Needs

Online Training Short Subject Presentations with Audio

Please go to the Online Training page to learn how to access the following presentations.

New Needs Assessment
This short subject discusses aspects of determining the need of our participants and then addressing those needs with reference to possible resources that will quickly enable us to make those assessments and provide or prescribe the necessary services to address those needs.

Needs Assessment Tools
Get an overview of the types of student needs assessments used in TRIO programs, with links to a number of online resources and examples. Presented by Ms. Deltha Q. Colvin and Ms. Paula J. Martin.

Online Resources

Trainees at the University of Washington TRIO Trainings have reported using the following student assessment tools. Links are provided to the tools available online.

Academic Placement Test Scores
Career Inventories and Personality Tests
Grades
- GPA
- Transcripts
- Progress Reports
- Number of Credits Accomplished vs. Enrolled
Program-Created Needs Assessments
- Checklists
- Lessons with Pre-Tests and Post-Tests
- Surveys
Reports
- From Counselors
- From Instructors
- From Tutors
- Recommendations
- Monthly Meetings
- Self-reports
Software Programs and Tutorials
- READ 180 Software
- Sleek Software
  - I.T. Incredible Tutor
  - TAKS Tutor
Standardized Test Scores
Web Sites and Online Tools
- http://www.assessments.com/
- http://www.lsu.edu/learn - how do you learn
Writing Samples
- Essays
- Goals Statements

Assessment Resources

ED.gov: Student Assessment
Recommended links on student assessment.

Educause: Assessment & Evaluation
"The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of information technology (IT) in higher education. It aggregates content submitted by EDUCAUSE, ECAR, Net@EDU, ELI, and our members. Resources include articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions and blog content."

National Center for Education Statistics
"The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education."

The Nation's Report Card
"The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as 'the Nation's Report Card,' is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Since 1969, assessments have been conducted periodically in reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, and the arts."

Authentic Assessment Toolbox
This is an excellent site that introduces authentic assessment as well as provides steps to authentic assessment. Within the site you will find the following chapters: What is it? Why do it? How Do you Dot it? Standards, Tasks, Rubrics, Portfolios, Examples, Glossary, and Workshops.

Microsoft Excel: Templates (Grade books, etc)
Great resource for templates for many needs, including math templates for instruction.

Rubrics for Teachers
Wow! This site gives instructors everything they need to know about rubrics (for many disciplines, how to's, samples, etc) AND it includes a comprehensive archive of rubric links.

Rubrics for Web Lessons
A very complete overview of rubrics: Authentic assessment, Resources, Examples, Guidelines, Exercises, Further Exploration, Software, and Books.

RubiStar
"RubiStar is a free tool to help a teacher make quality rubrics. Create rubrics for your project-based learning activity."

Testing Resources

ACT (ACT, ASSET, COMPASS/ESL)
"ACT provides educational and career planning for students and teachers at every level."

The Career Key - Career Planning Test
"The Career Key is a free service to help you with career choices, career changes, and career planning, job search, and choosing a college major or training program."

College Board
AP, CLEP, SAT, and PSAT test information.

General Educational Development (GED) Testing Service
GED test information.

GRE
"Whether you are a student planning to take a GRE test, a faculty member using GRE scores, or if you are simply interested in research on the GRE tests, this site contains all the information you will need."

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Test prep, admissions counseling, and career exploration.

LSAT
Sign up for the LSAT, take a practice test, and learn more about Law school through the Law School Admissions Council Web site.

MAPP Career Assessment - Free Trial for TRIO
"Motivational MAPPT, Appraisal of Personal Potential, is available for all TRiO Programs to use as a career assessment tool to help students identify their motivations toward work and learning."

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
"The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, and writing skills in addition to the examinee's knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine."

The Myers & Briggs Foundation
"The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful in people’s lives. The essence of the theory is that much seemingly random variation in the behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent, being due to basic differences in the ways individuals prefer to use their perception and judgment."

The Princeton Review
Test Prep, career exploration, and help with college and university admissions.

TOEFL
"ETS offers a broad range of assessment and learning tools to help evaluate and build the English language skills of students, employees, or individuals, and prepare them for the real-life academic or business environments that await them."