Patterns in Linear Equations
Strand: Patterns and Relations
(Patterns)
Outcomes: 1 and 2
Step 4: Assess Student Learning
Guiding Questions
- Look back at what you determined as acceptable evidence in Step 2.
- What are the most appropriate methods and activities for assessing student learning?
- How will I align my assessment strategies with my teaching strategies?
Sample Assessment Tasks
In addition to ongoing assessment throughout
the lessons, consider the following sample activities
to evaluate students' learning at key milestones.
Suggestions are given for assessing all students
as a class or in groups, individual students
in need of further evaluation, and individual
or groups of students in a variety of contexts.
A. Whole Class/Group Assessment
Examples
of Whole Class/Group Assessment 
B. Small Group/Individual Assessment
Summative assessment usually occurs at the
end of the learning cycle and provides an opportunity
for students to demonstrate what they know and
understand. Summative assessment usually includes
the assignment of a score or grade to the student's
work. You may want to provide opportunities
for choice in terms of the types of products
that students can use to demonstrate their understanding
In small groups, have students create a product
or presentation that shows their understanding
of a particular concept. For example:
- Does the graph of y = 2x + 5 ever
intersect the graph of y = –2x + 5?
Explain and show how you know.
- Does the graph of x = 2 ever intersect
the graph of y = 2? Explain and show
how you know.
- Create three different line graphs (linear
functions) where the ordered pair (2, 10)
is one of the values. Explain how you solved
this problem and represent your answer in
at least two different ways.
- Create a geometric pattern by showing the
first three elements. Demonstrate a solution
to your question in at least three different
ways. What would the 100th value be?
C. One-on-one Assessment
Examples
of One-on-one Assessment 
D. Applied Learning
Provide opportunities for students to investigate
real-life situations such as comparing cell phone plans
or television and satellite packages. Students can
compare how various monthly plans are similar or different
in terms of how much they cost. They can personalize
their investigation in terms of their own activities
that may include more text messaging, more talking
or particular channels that their families prefer.
Cell phone and television providers often show the
various plans and costs on their corporate Web sites,
so students can access real information. Students might
investigate the question "What is the most cost
effective plan for my own pattern of cell phone use?"