Assessing Deeper Learning

Deeper learning has been defined as "the skills and knowledge that students must possess to succeed in 21st century jobs and civic life" (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 2013). Assessing Deeper Learning: Developing, Implementing, and Scoring Performance Tasks examines the role of performance assessment to facilitate student attainment of the core competencies of deeper learning. The book details a journey that a large school district undertook to create a system of performance tasks designed to assess students' proficiency in critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication. Chapters devoted to the development and implementation of the district's high-quality performance tasks and rubrics highlight successes and lessons learned during the journey. Additional chapters focus on such topics as types of performance assessments, instructional methods that promote student engagement and deeper learning, policy, and how teacher leaders can drive this innovation to serve the teaching, learning, assessment, and accountability needs of schools. Assessing Deeper Learning: Developing, Implementing, and Scoring Performance Tasks was written for teachers, administrators, superintendents, and policy makers to better understand the challenges and opportunities afforded by using performance assessment to promote deeper learning.

Douglas G. Wren, EdD, is an educational consultant with twenty-eight years of experience in public education, including fourteen years as a classroom teacher in DeKalb County, Georgia. He served as DeKalb's director of research and evaluation before working as educational measurement and assessment specialist with Virginia Beach City Public Schools and assistant adjunct professor at Old Dominion University.
Christopher R. Gareis, EdD, is a professor of educational leadership in the School of Education at William & Mary. A former teacher, coach, principal, and associate dean, he regularly presents at educational conferences and works with schools, districts, and state agencies to develop the capacity of teachers and educational leaders to design and use assessments for learning.