SPARCS: Standards- and Preconceptions-based Assessment of Reform Curricula in Science

Harvard University, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

The project proposes to develop multiple choice items and instruments to be used to measure the understanding of grades 5-12 students on selected NRC standards in physical and earth/space science for grades K-4 and 5-8. Instead of traditional multiple-choice items the project team will use existing knowledge based on student alternative conceptions to develop misconception-based diagnostic tests. These tests will use as distractors the alternative conceptions that students often have in regard to scientific concenpts. The project will move through a series of well designed steps in terms of item generation, expert review and validation, instrument piloting, larger field tests and finally use instruments in pilot studies to determine if students who have been using particular curricula met particular NRC standards as measured by these new instruments.