Module 5 Assessing Student Projects

How do I assess student learning? How do I involve students in the assessment process?

In the past I have assessed student learning by using the test and student pages in the text books. I am moving away from just using this in my assessment, but old habits are hard to break. I have in the past few years to use rubrics and find them useful, but difficult to come up with a the descriptors are in student friendly terms. I am trying to move to creating the rubrics with the student, however time continues to be a factor in doing this. Then I tend to rely on the old standby. The guidelines from Airasian, 1991 has been very helpful in giving me focus on the assessments I create.

Perform the task yourself. (Again time)

Make sure the traits meet the targeted goals. (I have to know what I am teaching, a plan is a good idea. )

Limit the number of traits. (in the past I have tended to have too many thing to focus on, by limiting the number of traits this will help with some of the time factor)

Ask for input. (this is a big one for me, as I tend to work alone because I don't want to look dumb)

Student friendly language descriptors (I think this is just as important for me. I have to KISS) :) Also on this thought I want to be able to observe the student during the time they are working on the product. I think this would help solve some of the time factor.

No ambiguous words. ( a given for me, wait let me look up ambiguous to make sure I know what it means. Lacking clearness ahhh, I like that.)

Consider the order of the traits. (I have not thought of this in the past, logic would suggest to put the most important first.)

I still struggle with all of this just because of the time issue. I can see the validity of teaching this way, but feel there has to be a balance of this and the old school teaching. The reason I say this is because during the AIMS the students do not get to collaborate and they need to be able to work alone. How do we find that balance?

Module 4 Creating Samples of Learning

The creation of a student sample can help me clarify my unit expectations by helping me transition from a teacher-centered classroom to a student- centered one. This will allow me to experience what the students will experience. While I experience what the student experiences I will be able to guide them in the process need to complete their project. This process will also assure that I have not chosen to big or to little of a project for the students to complete and set manageable goals. I want to make sure the product will support their learning and show the needed evidence that they met the objective of the unit and that the standards have been met.

I can ensure students will achieve the learning objectives when creating their project by setting manageable time-lines and making sure the students know what the exceptions are.
I think the most important aspect of this module is to make sure that the project addresses standards, 21st century skills and the students learn to be self directed.

This module has helped me think about the impact of the Internet on my students’ learning in the following ways...

I have never thought of how the use of the computer and Internet could enhance the leaning of my students until this module. This can happen when they use written communication in email, on-line chat or instant messaging. On-line chat and IM'ing would cause the student to "think on their feet" so to speak. I have found that many students have a hard time "getting thoughts" down, but when they have to "talk" via the Internet they get to practice skills we teach in the classroom, for example writing skills, spelling and grammar.

Another tool that I have become interested in is the on-line surveys and opinion polls. I can see using them to gain knowledge about the students. This in turn, will impact the students learning by allowing me to plan units based on the students interest and meet the standards.

I really like the use of interactive documents or spreadsheets that the students can collaborative use to enhance their learning while making it mandatory for the students to use and respond the each others work. I feel this will engage the students in THEIR learning. All of these tool, are part of the 21st century, learning how to use them will allow the students to become citizens in our global world.

How can projects help my students meet standards and develop 21st century skills?

•How can I use projects to enhance student learning?


This module has made me think about my role as an instructional designer in the following ways...

So this was hard for me to get back to... Errr but I am here.

Back to the questions. Projects can help my students meet standards and develop 21st century skills by teaching them to work well with others while making thoughtful decisions and taking initiative to solve complex problems. They become self-managed and learn to communicate effectively. These are all skill that employers are wanting in their workforce.
PBL will meet standards because it is driven by important questions that are tied to standards. PBL also develops content knowledge, promotes student inquiry and higher order thinking.
Given the fact, that most people are motivated when they can see the usefulness of the given task at hand or learning I can use PBL to enhance their learning by giving them tasks that they will find meaningful.
This module has challenged me to change the way I teach. I have been very traditional in my teaching methods, lecture, testing pencil paper etc. This scares me because I am not sure that I will be able to "fit" it all in. Sitting and thinking about PBL I realize that it can be taken in small baby steps.