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.