InnerOrbit’s Sensemaking Summative Assessments are designed to measure student proficiency on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These ready-to-use assessments help teachers assess student understanding on a single performance expectation (PE) or combine them for comprehensive end-of-unit evaluations.
With 2-Dimensional (2D) and 3-Dimensional (3D) questions, Sensemaking Summatives challenge students to apply content knowledge, engage in science practices, and recognize crosscutting concepts—all essential for mastering NGSS standards.
What This Help Article Covers:
❓ What are InnerOrbit's Sensemaking Summative Assessments?
Sensemaking Summative Assessments on InnerOrbit are premade assessments designed to measure student proficiency on a single NGSS standard, known as a performance expectation (PE).
These short assessments contain 4 auto-scored questions that consist of:
Two 2-Dimensional Questions
Assess grade-level content knowledge along with the Science and Engineering Practice (SEP) or Crosscutting Concept (CCC) components of the NGSS.
Tags to Look For:
🟩 "Content and Concepts 2D" (Green Tag)
🔵 "Content and Practices 2D" (Blue Tag)
Two 3-Dimensional Questions
Challenge students to make sense of phenomena using all three dimensions.
These questions require students to apply content knowledge, engage in science practices, and recognize crosscutting concepts.
Tag to Look For:
🟣 "Sensemaking 3D" (Purple Tag)
📖 Want to learn more about Sensemaking? Read: Accessing Sensemaking
🗓️ When Should Sensemaking Summatives Be Used?
Sensemaking Summatives are best used post-instruction when you are ready to summatively assess mastery. They can be used as:
Stand-Alone Summatives for a single standard or lesson.
Comprehensive End-of-Unit Assessments by combining multiple PEs.
🔎 How to Find Pre-Made Sensemaking Summatives?
Step 1: Go to the “Build” Tab
Navigate to the “Build” tab in your InnerOrbit dashboard.
Step 2: Use the Search Bar or Browse Tiles
Use the Search Bar:
Type in a standard (e.g., MS-LS1-1) or a keyword (e.g., cells).
Use the Browse Tiles:
Select a standard using the browse tiles.
Step 3: Locate the “Assign Pre-Made Assessments” Section
Step 4: Select the Pre-Made Sensemaking Summative
Click the “Sensemaking Summative” assessment with the green tag.
Step 5: Add Questions
To Add All 4 Questions:
Click the green “Assign All Questions” button.
To Add Specific Questions:
Scroll down to the question you want to include on your assessment and select the “Add to Quiz” button.
You can also modify any question by selecting “Modify Question.”
Step 6: Review Your Assessment
After you add or modify questions, click “View Your Assessment” on the upper right corner of your screen.
Step 6: Name and Save Your Assessment
Optional Step 7: Building a Larger Summative Assessment
If you want to build a larger summative assessment to assess more PEs:
Repeat Steps 1-5 on the left-hand side in the Assessment Builder.
Search for another standard, find the pre-made Sensemaking Summative, and add the questions.
💡 If you need help assigning an assessment, see: How to Assign or Unassign an Assessment on InnerOrbit
📊 3D Data Analysis Resources and Tools on InnerOrbit
3-Dimensional student data is available as soon as your students have completed an assessment. This data helps you:
Identify gaps in knowledge and misconceptions.
Track progress toward proficiency on NGSS standards.
Make informed instructional decisions for next steps.
Check out these resources for more info:
📊 The Assignment Report: Best for granular, student-level and question-level analysis.
📈 The Dimensions Report: Great for standards-level analysis and class, school, or district-level trends.
💡 Tips for Creating Your Own Sensemaking Summatives
To collect accurate data and track student proficiency toward NGSS standards, consider the following tips:
Use Only 2D and 3D Questions
This provides a balanced assessment that measures both content knowledge and sensemaking abilities.
Include a Minimum of 3 Questions Per Standard
This ensures sufficient data for accurate analysis.
Select Key Standards for Comprehensive Summatives
For end-of-course summatives with multiple PEs, select a maximum of 7 essential standards to:
Avoid overly lengthy assessments.
Target the most important knowledge you want to measure.
Need more help?
For additional assistance, click on "Send us a message" in the site chat or email us support@innerorbit.com.