Quellmalz, E., Schank, P., Hinojosa, T., & Padilla, C. (September, 1999). Performance Assessment Links in Science (PALS). ERIC/AE Digest Series EDO-TM-99-04, University of Maryland, College Park.
Introduction
Understanding the central role that performance assessment plays in standards-based reform, educators are seeking ways to use these assessments to test student learning. Education agencies need pools of performance tasks to use in their student assessment programs and in evaluations of state and federally funded programs. Reform projects need standards-based assessment, too, as do teachers who are trying to implement reforms. Experience indicates, however, that the level of effort and costs of developing performance assessment tasks are very high (Quellmalz, 1984).
To meet the need for innovative approaches for sharing exemplary assessment resources, to facilitate the development of new ones, and to further understand how the use of standards based performance assessment can advance educational reform, SRI International is developing Performance Assessment Links in Science (PALS), an on-line, standards-based, interactive resource bank of science performance assessments. Coupled with the development of the resource bank is a program of research on effective use of these resources.