Instructure's New Data Shows Schools at Pivotal Moment for Changing K-12 Assessment Approaches

Rhea-AI Summary

On January 25, 2022, Instructure released its inaugural research on K-12 assessment, revealing that 81% of educators are concerned about the anxiety caused by summative assessments. The report showed that while 94% of educators use formative assessments, 84% are creating their own assessments, indicating a significant workload. Key findings suggest a shift towards a balanced approach to assessments is needed, highlighting technology and training as essential for effective implementation. The study surveyed 1,058 educators across the U.S., pointing to a crucial moment for evolving assessment methods in education.

Positive

• 94% of educators use formative assessments to support student learning.
• The study reveals a strong desire (81%) among educators to transition to a more balanced assessment approach.

Negative

• 81% of educators believe summative assessments lead to student anxiety.
• More than half (56%) of educators feel they spend excessive time creating assessments.

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure, the makers of Canvas, today released its first annual research that explores the current state of assessment in K-12, as COVID-19 continues to push schools into crisis. Overall, 81% of educators remain concerned that summative assessments are making students anxious, and teachers and administrators want to move to a more balanced assessment approach. While 94% of educators are now using formative assessments and 81% are using interim assessments to support student learning, more systems and supports are needed. An overwhelming majority (84%) of teachers are having to create their own assessments, and more than half say they spend too much time doing so—a growing problem for a nation of educators already overworked and overwhelmed. View the full report: State of Assessment in K-12 Education.

"Districts are increasingly using interim and formative assessment to navigate the pandemic's constant disruptions, which is critical to addressing unfinished learning and ensuring equity," said Trenton Goble, VP of K-12 Strategy at Instructure. "As an industry, we must do more to support innovative assessment at state and district levels, which means giving teachers access to high-quality, valid, and reliable assessments, and investing in technology systems that drive meaningful instructional practice and insights. Most importantly, we must approach these priorities without causing more anxiety for students or teachers."

Before K-12 assessment can be reimagined, one must understand its role in K-12 education today and its impact on administrators, teachers, and, most importantly, students. Instructure's first assessment-focused research study began in the fall of 2021. Together with Hanover Research, 1,058 K-12 teachers and administrators were surveyed across the United States, revealing six key trends:

1. Change the way we approach assessment.

Teachers and administrators feel that state summative assessments are outdated, and want to shift toward an actionable, balanced assessment approach.

• Only 55% of educators positively perceive state summative assessments
• 81% of educators are concerned that summative assessments make students anxious

2. Assessment is a key part of the learning process.

Formative and interim assessments are widely used by educators to better understand student needs and adjust instruction in the moment.

• 94% of educators use formative assessment, and 81% use interim assessment to inform instruction
• More than half of educators (56%) say they spend too much time building their own assessments

3. Quality and reliability matter.

Four attributes of district and classroom assessments have never been more important: quality, reliability, validity, and alignment to state standards.

• 84% of teachers create their own formative assessments to inform classroom instruction
• When educators do look to license vendor-created assessments, 66% of respondents say that the vendor's reputation is very or extremely important during an evaluation

4. Utilizing assessment data in the classroom is essential.

Three-quarters of educators reported that their school provides training and support to help teachers improve assessment data literacy.

• Two-thirds of educators (67%) are comfortable with using assessment data to inform instruction
• Fewer are comfortable using data to design interventions (52%) or evaluate their own efficacy (58%)

5. The right technology makes a difference.

Districts need systems that support formative and interim assessments, drive meaningful instructional practice, and provide insights that fuel a personalized learning experience.

• 82% of educators administer online assessments
• The top three assessment technology features are the ability to track student mastery (57%), provide real-time data delivery (51%), and align content to learning standards (51%)

6. Empowering teachers can lead to a positive assessment culture.

Teachers are the power users of assessment data, so K-12 leaders must ensure they understand how and why data-driven assessment fuels student success.

• Three-quarters of educators feel their school district promotes a strong assessment-focused culture
• School-level administrators (73%) and teachers (70%) are primarily responsible for reviewing and analyzing assessment results

Survey Methodology
The "State of Assessment in K-12 Education" survey was developed in coordination with Hanover Research. It was fielded in October 2021 and was cleaned and analyzed by Hanover Research. After fielding and data cleaning, the study consisted of 1,058 qualified, completed responses from 707 teachers and 351 school or district-level administrators in the United States. The data cut into crosstabs by role, region, and district urbanicity. We performed statistical significance testing across segments with a 95% confidence level using a Z-Test with p = less than 0.05 and a margin of error +/- 1% for the overall sample size.

For any questions regarding the underlying methodology or data, please contact us at k12assessment@instructure.com.

ABOUT INSTRUCTURE
Instructure (NYSE: INST) is an education technology company dedicated to elevating student success, amplifying the power of teaching, and inspiring everyone to learn together. Today the Instructure Learning Platform supports more than 30 million educators and learners around the world. Learn more at www.instructure.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the potential, timing, and examples of any strategic alternatives. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, but are based on management's expectations as of the date of this press release and assumptions that are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include the risk factors described in the Company's initial public offering prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on July 23, 2021, and other documents filed with the SEC and could cause actual results to vary from expectations. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof and Instructure undertakes no duty to update this information except as required by law.

CONTACT:
Brian Watkins
Director of Communications
Instructure
801.610.9722
brian.watkins@instructure.com

Maggie Quale
Corporate Communications
Instructure
831.325.7943
maggie.quale@instructure.com

 

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SOURCE Instructure, Inc.

FAQ

What key findings did Instructure report on K-12 assessments?

Instructure's report highlighted concerns about summative assessments causing anxiety and the need for a balanced approach to evaluations.

When was the Instructure K-12 assessment study conducted?

The study was conducted in the fall of 2021 and surveyed 1,058 K-12 educators across the United States.

What percentage of educators uses formative assessments according to Instructure?

According to Instructure, 94% of educators utilize formative assessments in their teaching.

What concerns did educators express in the Instructure report?

The report indicated that 81% of educators are concerned that summative assessments induce anxiety among students.

How does the Instructure report suggest improving K-12 assessments?

The report emphasizes the need for quality technology, training, and a shift towards more balanced assessment approaches.