ImagineIT Phase 4
While reading the book What should I do? Confronting Dilemmas of Teaching in Urban Schools by Anna Ershler Richert, I found that the problems that most relate to my ImagineIT project and school context are assessment dilemmas. I have been using end of unit assessments that are provided by the science curriculum which typically include 10 -12 multiple choice and 2 - 3 application questions. I have found that very few students demonstrate mastery on these end of unit assessments.
On p. 90 of What Should I Do?, it states that, “when tests are used ...in a formative way they can be a mechanism for indicating student misconceptions and thus provide a starting point for addressing student learning needs.” A possible solution to my dilemma is to deconstruct the summative unit tests into smaller formative assessment opportunities that can be given throughout the unit. Summative performance of understanding projects will replace the traditional multiple choice test to demonstrate what students know and understand.
Richert asserts that “ if assessments are used to help students monitor their learning rather than as a punitive measure used to judge what they don’t know students can come to understand that learning is possible.” My English Learners, Diverse Learners and struggling students will greatly benefit from this formative approach.
On p. 90 of What Should I Do?, it states that, “when tests are used ...in a formative way they can be a mechanism for indicating student misconceptions and thus provide a starting point for addressing student learning needs.” A possible solution to my dilemma is to deconstruct the summative unit tests into smaller formative assessment opportunities that can be given throughout the unit. Summative performance of understanding projects will replace the traditional multiple choice test to demonstrate what students know and understand.
Richert asserts that “ if assessments are used to help students monitor their learning rather than as a punitive measure used to judge what they don’t know students can come to understand that learning is possible.” My English Learners, Diverse Learners and struggling students will greatly benefit from this formative approach.