It can be time-consuming to review student performance on assessment tasks, formulate feedback, and determine instructional next steps—and even more challenging to utilize insights to advance student learning.
Recent advances in technology-enhanced assessments, including automated scoring and AI, can help teachers interpret and use assessment information.
Purpose
Realizing the Potential of Automatically Scored Three-Dimensional Assessment, or PASTA, is the central goal of a multi-institutional effort between WestEd, Michigan State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The PASTA team is developing an automated scoring system within an online platform that will score, organize, and display performance results for teachers and students. The system will also provide feedback for students and instructional guidance for teachers.
Audiences Served
The project aims to assist middle school science teachers in using technology-enhanced assessment tasks in an instructionally supportive role where assessment is integrated seamlessly into science lessons. The system features will enable teachers to formatively assess student performance and make just-in-time instructional adjustments that will enhance learning.
Project Activities
The project team—composed of experts in science education, science assessment, artificial intelligence, learning technologies, and psychology—is developing the PASTA system. The main approach is to design with the needs of teachers and students in mind so that the advances in AI can support teachers in bringing assessment and instruction together for improved learning outcomes.
Project Director
Christopher Harris
Funder
This project is supported with funding from the National Science Foundation through award numbers 2101112 (WestEd), 2100964 (Michigan State University), 2101104 (University of Georgia), and 2101166 (University of Illinois at Chicago).
Project Duration
9/1/2021–08/31/2025
