Assessment to improve learning in mathematics: The BEAR assessment system

Abstract

Introduction The Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center has for the last several years been involved in the development of an assessment system, which we call the BEAR Assessment System. The system consists of four principles, each associated with a practical “building block” [Wilson 2005] as well as an activity that helps integrate the four parts together (see the section starting on p. 325). Its original deployment was as a curriculum-embedded system in science [Wilson et al. 2000], but it has clear and logical extensions to other contexts such as in higher education [Wilson and Scalise 2006], in largescale assessment [Wilson 2005]; and in disciplinary areas, such as che..