Overview
Matt D. Silberglitt leads the design and development of science assessment content aligned to academic standards. As the Manager of Science Assessment of the Assessment Design and Development team, Silberglitt helps assessment developers and state assessment specialists address shifts in science education toward multidimensional science standards.
Silberglitt’s work includes large-scale state and national assessments; assessments for benchmark, interim, and formative use; and innovative, technology-based assessment content. He has led or participated in research designing multilevel systems for assessment and developing approaches to assessment that incorporate a wider range of formats, such as interactive computer simulations for science and live coding tasks for computer science. He has also facilitated professional learning workshops for educators in assessment literacy.
Before joining WestEd, Silberglitt was a science assessment specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education, where he was part of a team designing and developing science assessments using innovative formats, such as animated science investigations and technology-enhanced item types. Silberglitt previously developed assessments at Data Recognition Corporation in Minnesota, where he led the design and implementation of professional learning in assessment literacy. He has experience teaching at various education levels from elementary school through college, including six years teaching high school science.
Education
- MEd in physical science education, University of Minnesota
- BS in chemistry, University of Minnesota
Select Publications
Bell, P., Bennett, R., Boyce, A., Faulkner-Bond, M., Gong, B., Guzman-Orth, D., Hinds, F., Lazarus, S., Penuel, W., Pruitt, S., Reid, A., & Silberglitt, M. (2023, April 15). Systems for equitable educational assessment [Panel discussion]. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Nelson-Barber, S., Johnson, Z., Boxerman, J., & Silberglitt, M. (2021). Using context-adaptive Indigenous methodologies to address pedagogical challenges in multicultural science education. In M. M. Atwater (Ed.) International Handbook of Research on Multicultural Science Education. Springer, Cham.
Silberglitt, M., Luttgen, K., Rego, M., Brenner, D., & Grillo-Hill, A. (2020, April 17-21). Using simulations and games in a system of multidimensional science assessments [Presentation]. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
Gaertner, M., Silberglitt, M., King, K., & Brandt, C. (2019, April). Assessing explanation, argument, and integrated knowledge for the Next Generation Science Standards [Presentation]. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, ON.
Quellmalz, E., & Silberglitt, M. (2017). SimScientists: Affordances of science simulations for formative and summative assessment. In H. Jiao & R. W. Lissitz (Eds.), Technology enhanced innovative assessment: Development, modeling, and scoring from an interdisciplinary perspective (pp. 71–94). Information Age.
Quellmalz, E., Silberglitt, M., Buckley, B., Loveland, M., & Brenner, D. (2016). Simulations for supporting and assessing science literacy. In Y. Rosen, S. Ferrara, & M. Mosharraf (Eds.), Handbook of research on technology tools for real-world skill development (pp. 192–230). IGI Global.
Silberglitt, M. (2014, April). Simulations for assessments that integrate practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts [Presentation]. National Science Teachers Association National Conference, Boston, MA.
Silberglitt, M., Buckley, B., Loveland, M., Brenner, D., LaMar, M., & Quellmalz, E. (2014, April). SimScientists assessment systems [Presentation]. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
Silberglitt, M., Quellmalz, E., & Lamar, M. (2013, April). The effects of a coherent system of assessment on science learning and teaching [Presentation] Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
Quellmalz, E., Timms, M., Silberglitt, M., & Buckley, B. (2012). Science assessments for all: Integrating science simulations into balanced state science assessment systems. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 49, 363–393.
Quellmalz, E., Timms, M., Buckley, B., Davenport, J., Loveland, M., & Silberglitt, M. (2012). 21st century dynamic assessment. In M. Mayrath, J. Clarke-Midura, & D. H. Robinson (Eds.), Technology-based assessments for 21st century skills: Theoretical and practical implications from modern research (pp. 55–90). Information Age.
Quellmalz, E., Silberglitt, M., & Timms, M. (2011). How can simulations be components of balanced state science assessment systems? [Policy brief]. WestEd.
Quellmalz, E., Timms, M., Silberglitt, M., & Crovo, M. (2010, June). National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): Technology and engineering literacy framework and item specifications for the 2014 NAEP [Presentation]. CCSSO National Conference on Student Assessment, Detroit, MI.
Silberglitt, M. & Buckley, B. (2010, March). Using simulations to assess complex science learning in middle school classrooms [Presentation] Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Philadelphia, PA.
Silberglitt, M., & Quellmalz, E. (2009, October). Science simulations: Promise for improving assessment [Presentation]. Council of Chief State School Officers State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards for Science, Washington, DC.
Silberglitt, M., & Vineyard, R. (2009, March). Integrating simulation-based science assessments into balanced state science assessment systems [Presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Council of State Science Supervisors, New Orleans, LA.Silberglitt, M., & Muehl, M. (2007, March). Developing an online state science assessment [Presentation]. National Science Teachers Association Conference, St. Louis, MO. Silberglitt, M., & Breslin-Larson, J. (2006, August). Accommodations for online testing and assistive technology [Presentation]. Minnesota Department of Education Annual Conference, St. Paul, MN.
Honors, Awards, and Affiliations
Program Committee Chair (2022), Co-Chair (2021), and Section Chair (2019–2021); Division H: Research, Evaluation, and Assessment in Schools; American Educational Research Association
Reviewer, Journal of Research in Science Teaching (2012–2016)
Member of the Metadata Development Panel for the NGSS (2013–2014)
Participant in the National Feedback Meeting for the NAEP Science Framework (2005)
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