Diagnostic Teacher Assessment in Mathematics and Science (DTAMS): Middle Mathematics Teacher Assessments

Diagnostic Mathematics Assessments for Middle School Teachers are written tests that measure mathematics knowledge in four content domains (Number/Computation, Geometry/Measurement, Probability/Statistics, Algebraic Ideas) and across four types of knowledge (Memorized Knowledge; Conceptual Understanding; Problem Solving/ Reasoning; and Pedagogical Content Knowledge). Researchers, professional development providers, and course instructors can administer the assessments as pre- and post-tests before and after workshops, institutes, or courses to determine growth in teachers' content knowledge. Multiple parallel versions of each assessment are available.

Content

Category
Sub-Category
Domains
Teacher Knowledge
Grades
6th Grade,
7th Grade,
8th Grade
Languages
English
Respondent
Teacher

Administration Information

Length
20 items (10 multiple-choice and 10 open-response). Participants usually take between 45-75 minutes to complete the assessment, with the bulk of participants taking about 60 minutes.

Access and Use

Contact
Open Access
Yes
Use in Research

Cady, J., & Rearden, K. (2009). Delivering online professional development in mathematics to rural educators. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education17(3), 281-298. https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/28295

Lim, W., & Guerra, P. (2013). Using a Pedagogical Content Knowledge Assessment to Inform a Middle Grades Mathematics Teacher Preparation Program. Georgia Educational Researcher10(2), 1-15. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1194762

McGatha, M. B., Bush, W. S., & Rakes, C. R. (2009). The effects of professional development in formative assessment on mathematics teaching performance and student achievement. Journal of Multidisciplinary Evaluation6(12), 32-43. https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/224

Psychometrics

Scoring
Computer scoring,
Manual scoring
Psychometric References

Ronfeldt, M., & Truwit, M. (2023). Considerations for use of teaching quality measures. EdInstruments Brief, Annenberg Institute for School Reform, Brown University. www.edinstruments.com/teaching.

Saderholm, J., Ronau, R., Brown, E. T., & Collins, G. (2010). Validation of the diagnostic teacher assessment of mathematics and science (DTAMS) instrument. School Science and Mathematics110(4), 180-192. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-8594.2010.00021.x

National Comparison
No

Psychometric Considerations

Psychometrics is the science of psychological assessment. A primary goal of EdInstruments is to provide information on crucial psychometric topics including Validity and Reliability – essential concepts of evaluation, which indicate how well an instrument measures a construct - as well as additional properties that are worthy of consideration when selecting an instrument of measurement.

 Learn more