Using an Online Assessment Tool to Teach Authentic Assessment to Early Childhood Teacher Candidates
Published In
Rural Special Education Quarterly
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
5-20-2024
Abstract
Early childhood teacher candidates (TCs) need preparatory experiences using authentic assessments to inform their instructional practices with rural learners and their families. The shift to virtual field placements in response to COVID-19 restrictions pushed faculty in teacher preparation programs to reimagine how to engage TCs in meaningful experiences using authentic assessments with children and families. This study explores how TCs experienced authentic assessment practices using an online assessment management system, Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System Interactive (AEPSi), during virtual field experiences. Fifty-five undergraduate and graduate TCs from 11 universities completed a 45-item survey about their experience. Teacher candidates articulated knowledge and skills aligned with best practices underpinning authentic assessments. The virtual learning environment created opportunities for faculty to reimagine practices for promoting TCs’ understandings of assessment in early childhood special education contexts. We discuss implications for training TCs in rural areas to use authentic assessment.
Rights
© Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2024
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1177/87568705241249472
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42197
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Citation Details
Rahn, N. L., La Croix, L., Shin, D. L., Gravil, M., Chen, C. I., Hix-Small, H., ... & Xie, H. (2024). Using an Online Assessment Tool to Teach Authentic Assessment to Early Childhood Teacher Candidates. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 87568705241249472.