- Ben Van Dusen
- https://education.iastate.edu/directory/ben-van-dusen/
- Iowa State University
- Presenter’s NSFRESOURCECENTERS
- Iowa State University
- Jayson Nissen
- Research Scholar
- Presenter’s NSFRESOURCECENTERS
- Nissen Education Research and Design
The Learning About Stem Student Outcomes (LASSO) platform
2022 (see original presentation & discussion)
Grades 9-12, Undergraduate
The LASSO platform supports instructors in assessing the impact of their instruction on their student outcomes, such as conceptual knowledge, attitudes, and science identity for free. LASSO simplifies this process for instructors by automating the administering, scoring, and analyzing of research-based assessments. The collected data is aggregated to provide a cross disciplinary, multi-institution database that supports STEM instructors and education researchers. The database also provides instructors with context to interpret how well their courses are meeting their goals. In addition to accessing the LASSO database, researchers can use the platform to develop new research-based assessments that meet instructors’ needs and further our understanding of STEM teaching and learning.
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Daniel Damelin
Senior Scientist
The video talks about using assessments as pre or post. Are they ever used formatively to gauge how students are doing as they progress through a unit?
The sample assessments on the LASSO site appear to be multiple choice. Given the intention of the LASSO items to be automatically scored this makes sense. However, with MC there are limitations in what can be measured. Are there any plans to try to include constructed response questions. Perhaps with recent advances in machine learning one could continue to have the assessments auto-scored? Could be an interesting research avenue.
Chanda Jefferson
Jayson Nissen
Research Scholar
LASSO could host an open response instrument. It would just need funding to add that capability. Our current interest focuses on cognitive diagnostic computerized adaptive testing using multiple choice questions.
Chanda Jefferson
Sally Crissman
Senior Science Educator
Your video has piqued my curiosity. Do you have data that shows how professors/instructors have used the LASSO data (case studies)? How have they modified their teaching based on "pre" information? What assessments do they use in addition and how are the two systems integrated?
Chanda Jefferson
Jayson Nissen
Research Scholar
We only have anecdotal information. Some faculty discuss the results with each other after the term to think through what they will do in the future. Others use the pretest to inform small group assignments.
Chanda Jefferson
Ben Van Dusen
Iowa State University
We're working on creating new tools and resources to support instructors in using their pretest information to inform their instruction.
Chanda Jefferson
Educator/Education Policy Fellow
Using pretest data to inform instruction definitely add more planning on the instructors end, but it is worth it when student learning increases. I am curious to know what challenges you are facing as you develop these new tools and resources to support instructors?
Chanda Jefferson
Educator/Education Policy Fellow
Hello everyone, I am so happy to join this discussion! My name is Chanda Jefferson and I am a former High School Biology teacher and STEM teacher leader. I taught in title one schools for over a decade and my students experienced record breaking gains in academic achievement when I used pre- assessment and post assessment data to measure student growth and outcomes. I think this is a great idea and thank you for sharing the LASSO platform with us. I have a couple questions circulating after watching the video. The video speaks about professors using the data to inform instruction and providing additional assistance to students, but is there a component of the platform for students to identify their own weaknesses (areas for growth), to create personalized study plans for unfamiliar topics? Have you thought about potential unintended consequences that could arise if professors have access to non-scientific attributes or attitudes of students (growth mindset and grit)?
Ben Van Dusen
Iowa State University
Great questions. We don't currently have any ways for students to input their own learning goals or areas of interest. But we are in the the very beginning stages of creating a computer adaptive test that includes a cognitive diagnostic component. This would provide each instructor with personalized and actionable information for supporting each student.
As to whether instructors knowing more might lead to unintended consequences, it's a good question that I don't have the answer to. We know that instructors generally lack useful streams of information about how their students are doing and that this creates a barrier to effectively supporting their students' learning. We also try to help point instructors in helpful and equitable directions, particularly with our interactive equity analysis tool. It is my hope that the good that would come from have more information about students would outweigh any negative. But it's something that is worth considering.
Dennis Kleinman
What a fascinating program. The project my team and I have been working on is a K-12 curriculum focused on the science behind BioFabrication. (If you want to have a look at our presentation, you can view it here: https://stemforall2022.videohall.com/presentations/2489 ) I'm wondering if we could build our assessment based on LASSO. I'd love to get your thoughts.
Ben Van Dusen
Iowa State University
Yes! We are developing a number of tools to support researchers in developing and using instruments using LASSO. We should setup a time to meet and discuss how LASSO might be able to support your project.
Further posting is closed as the event has ended.