Colorado Student-Centered Science Assessment Learning Series and Toolkit

The Colorado Student-Centered Science Assessment Learning Series and Toolkit is a sustained and supported professional learning experience designed to shift the culture of assessment to one where students experience assessment as an important part of learning that is positive, confidence-building, and empowering and teachers have access to assessments that are designed to reveal pivotal information about student sensemaking. The Learning Series and Toolkit experiences support school and district leaders in using assessments as a way to cultivate relationships and use classroom-generated bodies of evidence as a primary driver of instructional improvement strategies. This approach supports ongoing, embedded learning that connects to the work educators are doing in their classrooms and focuses on the development of functional assessment literacy. The Learning Series and Toolkit was developed and is supported, in partnership, with Dr. Sara Cooper at the Learning Policy Institute and Contextus.

2025-2026 Learning Series

Quantum Computing In K-12: Educator Support Session

No Experience Needed, Just Curiosity!

Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 4:00–5:30 PM MST | Virtual: Register here for this webinar.

Join the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and Dr. Sara Cooper for an interactive session designed to support educators in bringing quantum computing concepts into K–12 instruction and assessment.

Whether you bring a specific teaching or assessment challenge—or simply your curiosity—you’ll leave with new ideas and resources for exploring quantum-inspired approaches in your classroom.

You’ll Get:

Collaboration: Tackle real classroom or assessment challenges using quantum ideas

Engaging Lesson Design: Create student-centered tasks that spark curiosity

Professional Learning Hours Towards Re-licensure

Why Quantum Matters to Colorado:

Quantum tech powers GPS, MRI, and secure communications. Colorado is a national leader, with 10,000+ jobs projected and federal investment.

Students need quantum skills to succeed in this fast-growing field.

Learn more about CDE’s Quantum initiative: https://www.cde.state.co.us/quantum

2024-2025 Learning Series Archive

Designing Better Science Assessments: A Virtual Workshop

This interactive workshop focused on improving science assessment tasks through collaborative design.

See Recording Here!

Using AI Tools to Enhance Classroom Assessment Processes

See how one assessment designer is applying AI tools to the classroom assessment process—from generating engaging phenomena and designing realistic scenarios, to creating laser-focused questions and providing asset-oriented feedback.

See Recording Here!

Fueling Future Success: Feed Forward & Data-Informed Adaptations

Get hands-on with real science classroom assessment data and learn how to “feed forward” into your planning and instruction.

See Recording Here!

Check & Connects And Transfer Tasks
This learning series focused on leveraging existing instructional materials to include an ideal assessment system focusing on day-to-day 'Check and Connect' short, formative assessments end of unit Transfer Tasks.

Session Resources and Recordings

Deep Dives: Sensemaking, Phenomena, 3D Standards, Transfer Tasks
Tending to Learner Artifacts: Asset-Orientation, Looking at Learner Artifacts Together
Check & Connect Design Workshops
Transfer Tasks Design Workshops

Click here to access all Toolkit materials!

For more information on the Toolkit or to find out how to access professional learning experiences or personalized coaching, please contact Angela Landrum, CDE Principal Consultant, Assessment Systems.