We invite proposals for a conference on re-envisioning writing assessment. In an era of much standardized assessment for accountability purposes, the aim of the conference is to refocus attention on assessment approaches embedded in teaching and learning that draw on teachers’ expertise and re-engage teachers and students in the process of assessment to facilitate learning.
The specific goals of the conference are to
- highlight approaches to writing assessment that engage learners and inform teaching and learning across genres;
- disseminate best practices—within classrooms, departments, and schools-- to prompt thinking about new ways of writing assessment as linked to conference themes of relevance, diversity, and achievement;
- reflect on the impact of large scale writing assessment approaches on teaching, underserved student populations, and school reform;
- further conversations among teachers and various stakeholders on approaches to writing assessment that serve ends for accountability and recognize the professional expertise of teachers;
- further work to articulate desired learning outcomes at various grade levels; and
- encourage further conversations and collaboration amongst teachers across levels of education, from Pre-K through college.
We invite proposals for sessions on specific writing assessment models and approaches that are classroom or school-embedded and are relevant and equitable for all students, attending to differences in race, class, culture, and language. We particularly invite proposals on the following topics:
- Specific writing assessment approaches linked to particular learning goals
- Teaching, technology, and writing assessment
- Strategies for changing policy and school culture around writing assessment
- Expectations for writing at various grade levels and for college and career
- Strategies for equitable assessment of the writing of English language learners
- The impact of various sorts of assessment approaches, including large scale assessment (evaluation as well as suggested alternatives)
- Writing assessment across disciplines/content areas
We welcome proposals for sessions that will include students as well as other possible stakeholders (e.g., parents). Proposals may be for single papers or full panels, demonstrations, interactive workshops, or posters that demonstrate specific classroom assessment approaches that advance student learning.
Please download the proposal submission form here.
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2008.
You will be notified by August 15.
After downloading and completing the proposal form, send proposals either electronically to reenvisioningassessment@english.umass.edu.
Or by mail to:
Re-envisioning Writing Assessment Conference
Department of English
University of Massachusetts Amherst
130 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-929269
NOTE: If you have the full Adobe Acrobat client, you should not have any
problems saving and sending the form electronically. However, the free Adobe Reader software will not allow this form to be saved as a .pdf with your typed information using the “save as” option. To send the form to us
electronically on a PC, you’ll have to “print to file” and then attach this
saved format to an email. On a Mac computer, you’ll select Adobe .pdf from list of available printers and then “print” which will create a document which you are then able to attach to an email. The other option is copy and paste the information and submit it as a word document.
If you have questions when this process is underway, feel free to email
reenvisioningassessment@english.umass.edu for help with this process. |
