- I assess more frequently on fewer learning goals. This allows me to conference with every (usually) student immediately after each assessment.
- My tests are printed in a specific format:
- they have a cover page containing only the student's name, period, and any relevant given information (formulas, constants, etc.)
- the questions are sectioned by learning goal
- at the beginning of each section, the learning goal code and description are listed along with a score box
- The first student who is done with the test comes up directly to me and I grade his/her test. This has several benefits:
- I get to have a individual conversation with each student. I always greet the student by name and then take the time to briefly connect with them in some way besides the test we're about to grade.
- If a student has written an answer that I am unclear about as I read it, I can ask the student right then and there to clarify their answer. I can take that into account when score the test.
- I can give the student immediate feedback. Not the next week. Not in two days. Not tomorrow. Immediately. This is a big deal.
- I can give specific ideas for them to remediate if necessary.
- The second student done with the test stands in the "on-deck" circle near my desk.
- The third student who is done puts their test in a wire bin, sits back down at their desk and works on whatever I have assigned students to do after the test.
- Pointing into the wire bin is an old video camera that I have permanently checked out from our media center. It serves as a DIY document cam.
- The video camera is hooked up to the video port on my digital projector.
- Since the cover page of the of the test does not contain any test questions/answers - no problem.
- Other students who finish, put their test on the bottom of the stack in the wire bin.
- When I am done conferencing with the first student, he/she goes into the lab area to update his/her notebook:
- enters scores on unit score tracker in science notebook
- color codes scores on tracker with a colored pencil:
- 4 - green
- 3 or 2 - yellow
- 1 or 0 - red
- puts assessment into his/her personal manila folder containing all written assessments
- puts manila folder in a different wire bin
- sits down at desk, calculates new science grade using notebook grade tracker page, and then works on assignment
- When the first student leaves, the student in the on-deck circle comes up to get their test graded
- The student whose name is being projected on the board gets their test out of the bin and waits in the on-deck circle.
- The process continues until I'm done grading all the tests or the bell rings.
- If I don't get to conference with all the students, I grade those tests after school and pass them back the next day. Since I typically don't have many to grade, I have more time to leave detailed written feedback.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
SBG Part 4 - The written assessment process
I have gone through many iterations of how to do assessment, but I think I've hit on something pretty good this year. Here's how it goes:
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A very well thought out system! Two quick thoughts come to mind when I read your system of assessing student learning. First and foremost, your top priority is providing immediate and meaningful feedback versus, just a grade. Secondly, your system optimizes instructional time! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI really like how you section your learning goals. This can quickly reveal to you (the teacher) and more importantly (the student) which area he/she has mastered or needs more understanding. As a principal, when I visit classrooms, I am constantly asking students to tell me what they know and are able to do and also to describe the areas in which they lack understanding. I love it when they provide a quick and accurate response. I bet your students could do just that! Thanks for sharing this piece. Great work! Stay connected, Shawn
I wanted to see what your format is but the link is no longer working. Is there a way for you to update the link. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see what your format is but the link is no longer working. Is there a way for you to update the link. Thanks!
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