Assessments are more than grades, they provide evidence that students have met the intended learning outcomes. When assessments are intentionally aligned to standards, schools can:
- Measure student learning consistently.
- Ensure curriculum, instruction, and assessment are aligned.
- Identify gaps in curriculum coverage.
- Support accreditation and curriculum review.
- Make informed instructional decisions using assessment data.
Assessments are used in the Atlas system to allow Curriculum Developer to identify how they are assessing students against particular academic outcomes.
Assessment Framework in Atlas
Understand how the different assessment components in Atlas work together.
- Unit Assessments: Measure learning across a unit.
- Lesson Assessments: Capture evidence of learning during instruction.
- Assessment Types: Categorize the purpose of an assessment (e.g., Formative, Summative). Click here to learn how to create and manage the list of Assessment Types as an Admin.
- Assessment Methods: Describe how students demonstrate learning (e.g., Essay, Presentation, Quiz). Click here to learn how to create and manage the list of Assessment Methods as an Admin.
- Proficiency Levels (optional feature): Define the scale used to evaluate student performance. To turn on this feature, contact Atlas Support.
- Assessment Analysis: Reports that help schools evaluate assessment alignment and coverage.
Assessments in Atlas can be created at both the Unit Planner level and, optionally, within Lessons. To create an assessment, open the desired unit or lesson and click Add New Assessment.
1. Add the Assessment Name.
2. Select the Assessment Type, if enabled. The options are customizable and can be modified by Atlas Admins. Click here to learn more about managing the list as an Atlas System Admin.
3. Select an Assessment Method from your school’s approved list. The options are customizable and can be modified by Atlas Admins. Click here to learn more about managing the list as an Atlas System Admin.
4. Select any additional methods you use in the Additional Assessment Methods, if applicable.
5. Add description about your assessment in the Description box.
6. Add assessment related attachments by clicking the Add An Attachment link.
7. In the right section, check the box(s) to align your assessment to the standards you've targeted in the unit planner, or lessons planner, if applicable.
8. You may find that your Assessment also targets cross-curricular standards, such as in the case of technology integration. These standards may not be intended targets in your unit, but may be important to identify. Align to these standards in the Additional Standards tab.
9. Click Save to return to your planner.
Generate Assessments with AI
The Generate Assessments with AI tool helps you draft high-quality assessment descriptions in seconds by pulling directly from your selected unit/lesson standards and assessment metadata.
In any unit or lesson, click Generate Assessments with AI button in the Assessment section next to Add New Assessment.
In the pop-up window, fill out the foundational details for your assessment:
Assessment Name: Enter a clear, descriptive title for the task (e.g., "Forensic Bone Analysis Lab").
Assessment Type: Select the type of assessment from the dropdown menu.
Assessment Method: Choose your primary grading or evaluation method (this field is required).
Additional Assessment Methods: Select any supporting methods if the assessment uses multiple forms of evaluation.
Under the Standards section, you will see a list of the standards you have already targeted in this unit/lesson. Check the boxes next to the specific standards (up to 10 standards) you want this assessment to measure.
If you have specific instructions, format preferences (e.g., "Include a grading rubric" or "Write this as a student-facing prompt"), or unique constraints, type them into the Additional Information field at the bottom.
Review your selections and click Submit. The AI will process your inputs and automatically build a detailed, standards-aligned draft in your Assessment Description editor.
Review the generated text, make any personal tweaks or formatting adjustments as needed, and click Save to finalize your assessment!