Support DocumentationCreate an Additive Assessment Instrument

Create an Additive Assessment Instrument

An additive Assessment Instrument resembles a conventional rubric in format. The difference between conventional and additive instruments is the way the score is computed. The additive instrument generates a score that is the sum of criteria scores. Individual criteria are assigned a maximum score. Generally, additive instruments do not use a not-applicable (N/A) level, however an N/A may be added if the instrument includes developmental tiers.

Step 1: Access Assessment Instruments

1. Click on the Main Menu icon.

2. Click on the Curriculum option.

3. Select Assessment Instruments.

Step 2: Create a New Assessment Instrument

4. Click the New Assessment Instrument button.

5. Enter a Name for the instrument.

6. Select the Parent Group for the instrument by clicking on the Choose Group button.

7. Optionally enter a Description for the instrument.

8. Select the Additive scoring type.

9. Click Save.

Step 3: Optionally Adjust Performance Levels

Before you begin editing the criteria and performance level descriptions, you might want to edit or remove existing performance levels, or add new ones.

To add a new performance level:

10. Hover your cursor over the performance level - click on the Edit or Delete icon.

To edit or delete an existing performance level:

11. Click on the Add Performance Level button.

Step 4: Edit 'Criterion 1'

Our system will automatically provide you with your first criterion ("Criterion 1") when creating a new Assessment Instrument. This criterion should not remain untouched, but should instead be used as a starting point for your instrument. To edit Criterion 1:

12. Hover your cursor over the green "Criterion 1" box to reveal its options. Click on the Edit icon.

13. Enter a new Name for the criterion.

14. Optionally adjust the Weight.

15. Optionally select if this criterion will be Excluded from Assessment Score.

Why Would I Exclue a Criterion from the Score?

This feature is useful if you would like to asess a student on an outcome but would not like for the score to be considered in the assessment.  The performance level selected for this criterion during assessment will impact the outcome, but not the assessment.

16. Optionally add Tags to the criterion.

17. Enter a Description for the criterion.

18. Click Save.

Step 5: Edit Performance Level Descriptions

19. Click on the green area of the cirterion to reveal its description.

20. Hover your cursor over the performance level to reveal its options. Click on the Edit icon.

21. Enter a new Name for the performance.

22. Optionally adjust the Value.

23. Optionally adjust the Internal Value.

24. Add a Description.

25. Click Save.

What's the Difference Between 'Value' and 'Internal Value'?

The term Value refers to the external numerical score that is given to a criterion's performance level. It is the value that the Assessor will see for the performance level during assessment and the value that the Student will see when reviewing their results. It is also the value that will be used to calculate the final score on the assessment.

The term Internal Value refers to the numerical value applied to that criterion's performance level when running a report on the Assessment Instrument in Results Live. This value is not visible to Assessors during assessment, nor to Students when reviewing their results. It is not used to calculate the final score on the assessment. Rather, it allows Administrators to place their Assessment Instruments on the same performance level scale (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4) when the external values are different across the criteria in the same Assessment Instrument or across multiple Assessment Instruments in the system. In essence, the Internal Value is another way to apply a "pegging" scheme to an Assessment Instrument.

Step 6: Create New Criteria

Continue to edit the various performance levels. Once you have added a description for each one, you are ready to move on to your next criterion. There are two ways to add additional criteria:

25. Click on the Add Criterion button and repeating steps 4 and 5.

26. Click on the New Criterion from Outcome button. This will enable you to create a new criterion from an existing outcome.

27. Click Choose to select the outcome.

28. Click Save to save the new criterion.

How to Choose an Outcome

1. Use the Sources column to locate the outcome set, and sub-outcome.

2. Use the middle column to select the outcome. Use the Add Selected button, or drag-and-drop the outcome into the third column.

3. Click Done.

Step 7: Edit the Criterion from Outcome

29. Optionally edit the criterion Name.

30. Optionally edit the Weight.

31. Optionally select if this criterion will be Excluded from Assessment Score.

32. Optionally add Tags to the criterion.

33. Edit the Description.

34. Click Save.

If the selected criterion has a Key Word and Key Phrase associated with it, they will auto-populate the name and description for the criterion. Additionally, the target performance level (second-last) will be populated with the Key Phrase, and the highest performance level will be populated with "Exceeds expectations/proficient. See comments."

Step 8: Review New Outcome

35. Click on the Outcome Links icon to show the already-linked outcome.

36. Click on the X to close the outcome link window.

37. Review the Proficient and Exemplary (second highest and highest) performance levels and edit the others.

Next Steps...

Continue editing the assessment instrument by adding new criteria (regular, or from an outcome). Ensure that each criterion and its  performance levels have descriptions.