---

Student Learning and Assessment:
Faculty: Eva Baker, Noreen Webb

These students are typically interested in the methods and tools that help to measure learning. 

Students learn how to design, analyze, and report assessment data for large scale and classroom assessment situations.  This might include courses in quantitative methods classes within the School of Education (Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Latent Variable Modeling) and courses in other departments such as Psychology (Item Response Theory).   In addition to quantitative methods, students might be interested in cognition and learning, or the types of questioning strategies teachers implement to assess student understanding, or the policy implications of assessment in accountability systems.  Courses in psychology, anthropology, sociology, or political science would be relevant.  Many students work on projects at the National Center for Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing which might include developing performance assessments for school districts, analyzing concept maps for evidence of student understanding, or exploring the linguistic complexity of various items.  Another option for students is the Center for Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning.  CAESL is funded by the National Science Foundation and strives to “improve student learning and understanding in science by focusing on effective assessment.”

Here are some representative dissertation projects:

Felipe Martinez: A Multilevel Study of the Effects of Opportunity to Learn on Reading Achievement Issues of Measurement, Equity, and Validity.
Advisor: Noreen Webb

Stephen Zuniga: Defining the unit of measurement in observational data: Comparing methods of coding student behavior in collaborative group work.
Advisor: Noreen Webb