Objectives:
After this professional development, staff will be able to:
a. reflect on current assessment practices.
b. reflect on current use of technology in assessing student learning.
c. create an alternative assessment for their students to be used before the end of the school year.
Introduction:
It is not uncommon to hear a teacher say, "I taught it, but they didn't learn it." IT can be anything - a literary term, a geometry proof, photosynthesis, causes for war, sketching a face, a new basketball play.
Oftentimes, the problem is not in the teaching but in the assessing. How do we effectively assess that a student learned what we taught? For many, assessment involves pencil and paper, but in today's world of technology, differentiated instruction, and multiple intelligences, this form of assessment is no longer sufficient. Not all students can demonstrate their understanding in this traditional way.
As we have differentiated our instruction in the classroom, so must we differentiate our assessments of student learning.
This can be done through alternative assessment.
What Is Alternative Assessment?
Teaching Today offers these thoughts on alternative assessment here. ERIC Digests offers various ways to provide alternative assessment in the classroom here. Emerging Technologies provides specific examples of alternative assessment here.
Why Should We Provide Alternative Assessments, and How Can We Do It?
Professor Jon Mueller at North Central College provides the rationale for why we should provide our students with alternative assessments here. He also provides a flow-chart on how to create alternative assessments here. A collection of assessment strategies is provided here. An excellent description and discussion of tiered assessment is located here.
Here is a video providing examples of alternative assessment in math, which can be transferred to other content areas:
TASKS: After reading the articles on alternative assessment, please post a reflection in the COMMENTS section below addressing the following questions:
1. In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess students' learning?
2. Which article did you read, and what ideas were the most interesting/useful/applicable/practical?
3. Thinking about what you have taught over the year, which alternative assessment could have better enhanced your knowledge about student learning?
4. Which alternative assessment method will you try in your classroom before the end of the year and why?
Posting instructions:
1. Click on the word COMMENT immediately below. A text box marked "Leave Your Comment" will pop up. Please type your answers to the above questions in this box. Scroll down to "Choose Your Identity." Select NAME/URL. Type your last name into the NAME box (do NOT type anything in the URL box). Finally, click PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT.
2. Go back to the OHS PD website at http://ohspd.blogspot.com. Push the F5 button on the keyboard to refresh the screen. Your comment should appear.
3. Your attendance at this PD session will be credited once you make a COMMENT on the site.
FEEDBACK, PLEASE! A quick feedback form will be available for you to complete after you finish this PD. We appreciate your honest assessment of this workshop and format. Thanks!
This is a test comment.
ReplyDeleteThis PD was very helpful, because it gave us different resources and strategies to use in the classroom.
ReplyDelete1) I use technology very often in the classroom to asses. I have used:
ReplyDeletea. Webquests. I limit research to appropriate websites, etc. Students must choose the research that they want to do, and must be in parimeters I set.
b. Oral proficiency quizzes that are recorded and posted online.
2) I found the article that offered ideas/ tips for alternative assessment very useful. I intend to use portfolios next year and will now give students the option to imput their "best" student work taht hilights what they learned.
3) I would have liked to do more cumulative projects during the 1st and 2nd quarters.
4) I am doing a cumulative research project as 1/2 of their final grade. It will balance the final, and will give students who do not test well the chance to succeed.
1. As a language teacher, audio recording technology would be very useful for assessing student learning. Speaking skills could be more reliable reviewed with a recording, rather than live-grading of student speaking. Additionally video and audio samples can be very useful for testing listening skills.
ReplyDelete2. I found the article on tiered assessment most interesting. One challenge I have had with performance assessment for proficiency is challenging the higher performing students without making the tasks too difficult for struggling students. One piece that could be difficult to implement is motivating students to challenge themselves (if they feel that it would be easier to earn their grades on an easier task)
3. More authentic listening tasks would have been useful for assessing student learning.
4. I have, and will continue, to make extensive use of authentic reading tasks. I also plan to have a final speaking test for students.
1. Technology is a great tool to use in my classroom, especially in science where such a skill is so important. Between webquests, online simulations, labs, activities, students are usually more engaged when using technology. Alternate assessments are a really great way to get students more engaged without the fear of failure
ReplyDelete2. The idea of a portfolio seems very intriguing to me. I already utilize a packet system in my class which serves as a collective assessment of their work, but mostly focuses on notes, readings, and homework. I would like to try a more concrete portfolio which showcases student research, labs, etc.
3. In general, I believe alternate assessments can be very useful to my struggling students with IEPs.
4. Portfolio project, again, it will be a nice way to wrap up the year and allow students to do a self-driven research project on a topic of interest from the year.
I believe that technology is imperative to use in the classroom. I find that the use of powerpoint to create review games is a fun and helpful way to review information. You could also use the games a class assessment instead of individual ones.
ReplyDeleteI work with special needs students so we do a lot of alternative assessments. We use projects (posters, etc..), labs and games.
Since I teach science, I also like performance assessments as opposed to exams.
I see that technology will provide a great window of opportunity for my students
ReplyDeleteThe authentic assessments are very important, students are constantly asking "Why do I need to learn this?" It is crucial for us to show them applications in career paths that they are interested in so that they become invested in the class. Students need to take ownership of their learning to be successful.
ReplyDelete1. Technology is an excellent method of supplementing course material. I have found that Geometry Sketchpad helps students "see"
ReplyDeleteconcepts more clearly.
2. Alternative assessments seem to help with studens who experience test anxiety.
3. Alternative assessments also allow students
to delve more deeply into topics that may be of interest to them.
1. After receiving the finishing touches of the classroom of the future grant, I now find that the possibility for technology in my classroom, specific to assessments, is endless. In the past, I have scrammed to put together technology pieces into my lesson but have often found it to be a hassle and/or logistical nightmare. Recently, however, I have been able to use technology daily, and across all areas.
ReplyDelete2. The article that touched upon portfolio driven projects was immediately tangible to what I want to accomplish in my classroom. Online portfolios are a fantastic idea if they can be properly implemented. In the past, I have guiltily killed many trees while trying to organize classroom portfolios. Not only will technology created portfolios help in organization, but they will teach students needed skills.
3. I need to focus more on follow-up alternative assessments to the original alternative assessment. In other words, if students struggle the first time around, i need to analyze and recreate the assessment to identify breakdowns in learning.
4. More comic strips and podcasts using the savvy macbook applications!
1. I have used some technology in my classroom but I would really like to use more in the future. I think that giving my students oral tests and recording them, or allowing them to record dialogues with each other for a grade would be a really interesting and beneficial alternative assessment.
ReplyDelete2. Two of the articles I read discussed the use of portfolios as alternative assessments and I really love this idea. I have done a lot of small projects with my students this year but I want to create a detailed and comprehensive portfolio project for next year.
3. I wish that I had done more oral assessments, I think they really would have enhanced my knowledge about student learning.
4. Before the end of the year I will definitely use a comic strip as an alternative way of having my students write a dialogue.
1. I currently use technology on occasion to assess student learning by using webquests and online quizzes as culminating activities to use in addition or instead of a test.
ReplyDelete2. I enjoyed the article about tiered assignments. I have been trying to use these in my classroom in the form of a menu that gives students options of which problems to complete while maintaining high expectations of work for each student.
3. Rather than use a test to culminate every unit, I feel I could have used projects more to assess student learning. In science, though, I do use many performance/practical exams rather than written tests.
4. In addition to giving my students a final exam, this year I hope to also have them create the review sheets for the exam and create a practice test in order to test their classmates. Additionally, I plan to increase the use of tiered assignments like menus as assessments and try to perfect them a little better.
1. If given the option, I would use technology as a means of showing a student's ability to transfer a drawing, with pencil and paper, to a digital image, using Photoshop and Illustrator. Currently, I use technology as an point of access for an amalgam of images, which they will then use for their final product. Technology is essential in helping them visualize some of their ideas.
ReplyDeleteThe ERIC Digest article was the most interesting. The constant mention of portfolio I found to be amusing. Amusing because, in the art room, that is what a student spends the school year doing: developing a portfolio.
The art room is a living/breathing alternative assessment.
The merging of Art History, and the projects given, will continue to be my primary focus. The goal being to show the relevance of art to the discourse of not just history, but everyday life.
1. In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess students' learning?
ReplyDeleteStrictly in terms of assessment, I use search engines to check for plagiarism in the students’ research reports. As a history teacher I could also videotape the students’ oral reports and use the video for students’ self-assessment.
2. Which article did you read, and what ideas were the most interesting/useful/applicable/practical?
The Teaching Today article was useful in explaining the relationship between learning and assessment as well as establishing the categories of assessment. The ERIC digest suggested some useful methods. Emerging Technologies offered more helpful examples. Mueller did a good job explaining the process.
3. Which alternative assessment method will you try in your classroom before the end of the year and why?
More research projects with oral presentations. The research develops a critical skill and the presentations offer an opportunity for students who are not strong at test taking to show their learning.
my lack of technological experience will not help me in my classroom
ReplyDelete1. In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess student learning? Im my algebra classes we use the TI 83 graphing calculators regularly. Whenever we do a graphing calculator excercise, I check for student understanding by asking them to hold up their screens. A final assessment of their work is to show me a completed graph or regression on their screen. With my CFF technology I look forward to having the capability to project different graphs and functions for the entire class to see.
ReplyDelete2. Which article did you read, and what ideas were most interesting/useful/applicable/practical? I found the tiered assessments article very interesting. I use some tiered assessments like menus in my classroom. I hope to use more this quarter.
3. Which alternative assesment could have better helped you assess student learning? I wish I would have facilitated more classroom discussion in Algebra One. In Algebra Two, we have a great mathematical dialogue going everyday where I can easily use discussion to inform my teaching practice. In Algebra One, I have not been so successful.
4. Which alternative assessment will you use before the end of the year? In Algebra One, we are having a science/math project that will combine students understandings of both subjects and will allow students to use a variety of mediums to express their work. In Algebra Two, in addition to a cumulative final exam, students will do oral presentations of several application problems.
No comment
ReplyDelete1. I find that students are always more engages in a lesson when it incorporates technology, although it can be a struggle to do so with limited resources. The most successful use of technology this year in my classroom have been explorations as a class using the projector and power points for reviews or direct instruction.
ReplyDelete2. "A Collection of Assessment Strategies" was the most useful article in my opinion, because it gives the most concrete strategies that can be implemented immediately. At first I was struggling to relate some of the strategies to math, but I loved the comic strip word problem idea!
3. I would have liked to implement more long term projects that build up over time such as portfolios. As a new teacher I've tried a lot of different things over the year and I feel like next I will have a better idea of how I want the year to play out and how these long term projects can be incorporated.
4. I will try the comic strip word problem because my students really enjoy anything that involves art and this is a great way that I can incorporate art and math!
Technology is definitely an excellent tool in understanding concepts which needs visuals and animation
ReplyDeleteI read the article on alternative assessments and tiered instruction. I found the article on tiered instruction very interesting because it allows students to choose the difficulty of questions or assessments and while maintaining the lesson objectives. I like the portfolio assessment because it allows the students to pick which assignments and assessments best met the learning objectives. I will try the portfolio assessment in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI read the article on alternative assessments and tiered instruction. I found the article on tiered instruction very interesting because it allows students to choose the difficulty of questions or assessments and while maintaining the lesson objectives. I like the portfolio assessment because it allows the students to pick which assignments and assessments best met the learning objectives. I will try the portfolio assessment in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI feel technology in the classroom would be a great tool for the students to use alternative assessments in learning
ReplyDeleteI am a big supporter of writing out your answers rather than circling an answer .when someone writes it gives he or she the opportunity to express self and to be creative. Students are and will be able to feel a sense of worth and empowerment because now they are given the chance to analyze and synthesis information that was otherwise lifeless. Technology in the class room is a win win situation .We are living in the times.Way to go.
ReplyDeleteIn todays world technology is a must. I realize students that I teach get excited about various forms of technology. the diversification of instruction and varied forms of assessing the students has proven very useful to use with differentiated instruction.
ReplyDelete1. As a science teacher, I am extremely excited to incorporate technology into the various aspects of my students' learning. We can all agree that in our day and age, technology truly rules our world, therefore I firmly believe that providing students with an adequate experience is necessary and allows for an increased student investment into the content. I am planning on using the equipment that I have recently received through CFF grant in various ways including both traditional and alternative assessments - by offering students to take their tests in an online format, complete performance tasks on physical simulators, show their knowledge by creating content related web pages, etc.
ReplyDelete2. Eric Digests has offered several exciting and practical ideas that addressed the ways to incorporate alternative assessment into curriculum. As a physics/ physical science teacher, I have really enjoyed the overview of various performance tasks that can be implemented as a form of assessment - simulators, online experiments, videotaped demos, etc.
3. I wish that I would have included a more significant amount of process oriented assessments, as these types of tasks allow one to detect the break down in student's logical thinking, especially in the area of physics.
4. I will require my students to work with a physics simulator that will ask them to use their knowledge of electricity and circuits to create a viable electric appliance.
I believe THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN AND SHOULD BE GIVEN THE MEANS TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITIES. ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MEANS.
ReplyDelete1. I think technology can be very useful and engaging in the classroom. I have used technology by showing videos and bringing students oustide of the classroom for research and the Stock Market Game. I would like to further use technology by incorporating powerpoint presentations at some point.
ReplyDelete2. One of the articles I read focused on Tiered Assignments. I found it very interesting and encouraging that, although the students were given different levels of challenges, even the students who picked the "green" challenges saw improvements in their performance and confidence.
3. I have used different forms of assessment over the past school year, such as oral reports, projects and written reports. One assessment that I think would help me to better assess my students would be a portfolio of work that students choose to reflect what they have learned.
4. Before the end of the school year, I would like to use the portfolio assessment in the classroom.
1. In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess students' learning?
ReplyDelete-Have students take tests online or give students projects and the assessment would be do a PowerPoint or Web Quest
2. Which article did you read, and what ideas were the most interesting/useful/applicable/practical?
-Alternative Assessment-- how to use different assessment to receive understanding for higher level thinking,Performance assessment was most interesting because i can use it for physical education
3. Thinking about what you have taught over the year, which alternative assessment could have better enhanced your knowledge about student learning?
-I would like use all the technology assessments that i could because thats what students are into now-a-days and that would attract more attention than lecturing for 45mins.
4. Which alternative assessment method will you try in your classroom before the end of the year and why?
-Portfolio assessment which im already in the process of doing because each student has a folder which they compile papers and worksheets of life skills in health that they can keep and refer back to if they ever have a question that needs to be answered
Technology would be a great asset to all students. Students love to work on computers, they are excited to get away from the norm, to try something new. I think it is imperative that technology is incorporated into most or all classes, especially today when everything revolves around technology. I also believe technology has the power to open the students' minds to a new world.
ReplyDeletetest comment
ReplyDelete1.In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess students' learning?
ReplyDeleteI cuold use electronic instruments such as keyboards and electric guitars.
2.Which article did you read, and what ideas were the most interesting/useful/applicable/practical?
The article I read was Alternative Assessment Primer. I've always liked the portfolio idea. I could also create an electronic portfolio of recorded performances.
3.Thinking about what you have taught over the year, which alternative assessment could have better enhanced your knowledge about student learning?
More hands on material/instruments would better my knowlegde of the students learning.
4.Which alternative assessment method will you try in your classroom before the end of the year and why?
I'm going to use a recording and performing assessment before the year is over. This way, I can SEE whether the musical knowledge has been enturnalized internalized.
I enjoyed doing professional development on line.
ReplyDeleteThe material was challenging and interesting,
however, I would like to have this program at
my computer so I can read the articles at my
leisure.
I think that integrating technology and alternative assessments are key to developing students who can compete in the global economy. Having spent the majority of my career in a research setting, I can speak to the lack of analytical and critical thinking in today's graduates. I find that up until the CFF integration, technology assets in the classroom for utilizing alternative assessments like webquests, student blogs, etc., are woefully inadequate. I enjoyed being a CFF teacher at my previous High School and find that it really helps engage the students who are, for the most part, already technophiles.
ReplyDelete1. In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess students' learning?
ReplyDeleteI am a technology teacher so assessments are done on the computer. The assessments are differentiated like the instructions. Some assessments are
Performance based
Portfolio Review
Team Project Activities
2. Which article did you read, and what ideas were the most interesting/useful/applicable/practical?
Tiered Instruction and Assessment - Meeting the Needs of All Learners - the Challenge
As an educator the following from the above article is what I believe, “If we want all of our students to maximize their academic growth while learning in a state of “relaxed alertness,” we need to offer varied levels of challenge so that each student has the opportunity to learn to their full potential.”
3. Thinking about what you have taught over the year, which alternative assessment could have better enhanced your knowledge about student learning?
This is an effective and efficient Professional Development. I got professional
resources to support what I do in my classroom. I feel this did not
improve what I do but it did reinforce what and why I do what I do.
4. Which alternative assessment method will you try in your classroom
before the end of the year and why?
Instead of just using the rubric for detailing what I feel is basic, proficient, excellent, or poor I will augment the assessment for students with what was in “Alaska Department of Education & Early Development A Collection of Assessment Strategies”, The Self- and Peer-Evaluations section with Problem Solving Rating Scale and Portfolio Reflection Items.
Here are my responses, comment is above.
ReplyDelete1. In what ways do you (or could you) use technology to assess students' learning?
I would really like more access to technology resources as a science teacher as most of my lesson plans were already made for use in a CFF classroom and find that students really respond to tech based alternative assessments.
2. Which article did you read, and what ideas were the most interesting/useful/applicable/practical?
he Eric Digests laid out some realistic and practical ideas for science teachers in terms of alternative assignments.
3. Thinking about what you have taught over the year, which alternative assessment could have better enhanced your knowledge about student learning?
I would like to integrate more tiered assignments and choice boards.
4. Which alternative assessment method will you try in your classroom before the end of the year and why?
I will try to integrate tiered assignments, I have used choice boards in one form or another to appeal to the different intelligences of my students.
1) I would love to include more technology in my classroom assessments. Students in my class have created MySpace pages for characters from books we've read. Furthermore, as a whole class, students have taken online quizzes offered by the New York Times which provide links to the parts of the article referenced in the question.
ReplyDelete2. The article I read showed several examples of ways to incorporate alternative assessments. I liked the way the "tiered assignment" article titled the assignments based on challenge, instead of just points. This would encourage students to push themselves and is something I hope to try.
3. Over the past month I've had students discuss in small groups with a rubric and wish I had done this earlier in the year.
4.I will continue to use a rubric to assess small group discussions. Furthermore, I hope to increase my use of tiered assignments, revising them to reflect the articles suggestions. This might be a great tool for a comprehensive review at the end of the year.
I happen to like the alternative assessments. In the CTE curriculum, we are required to use alternative assessments for students. I agree with the articles that alternative assessments (along with typical testing) give a better picture of what students not only know, but also what they can do. I am fortunate that I have the ability to use technology daily for computer drafting. The students are working daily on projects completing increasingly more difficult tasks, which require better proficiency of skills learned and in-depth thought processes. When students begin the design process, they also incorporate design techniques from the text along with computer drafting skills.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I liked the articles posted for this staff development. I thought they were informative and not boring and I will be looking to work in a few more performance based assessments into my program.
1. As a Special Education teacher, I find that the use of technology in the classroom is essential for my visual and auditory learners. My students are actively engaged in learning if there are interactive assessments powered by the use of a projector and/or computers.
ReplyDelete2. I found “A Collection of Assessment Strategies” article most intriguing because it provided sample rubrics of how I can assess my students to use “kinesthetic, artistic, musical, spatial, media, and other modalities to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and application of skills.” I believe that these are brilliant strategies that I hope to incorporate in future classroom rubrics.
3. One assessment that I believe will enhance student learning would be the use of portfolio work so my students can reflect on learned skills and knowledge.
4. I am eager to attempt incorporating kinesthetic assessments in my English Class. I believe that anything that will have the students up and out of their seats will be a hit!
I do believe that it's important to give students different venues for demonstrating their knowledge. In the workplace, their knowledge will always be tested by how well they APPLY and USE what they know.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I've considered doing is having students demonstrate their research by building web sites about the people or topics that they have to research. This will allow them to learn both research and technological skills.
This is really an informative site. I have had the opportunity of taking a course that integrates technology in lesson planning and can appreciate the wealth of information obtainable from the web. Technology can enhance lesson planning and student learning. It will also address multiple learning styles and improve the community within the class room. My wish is that I have the technology available to integrate it daily.
ReplyDeleteUsing multiple assessment tools is only fair knowing that students learn differently. It also gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and to explore new opportunities.
1. I feel that technology is very helpful for the students who often struggle and even more beneficial for the students to explore more. I use ti-83 with my students.
ReplyDelete2. The differentiated instruction is helpful for the students who get nervous while taking the test.
I use alternative assessments in my class all the time. I have students make pinatas and Toltec, Maya or African masks after a short mini-unit that I teach on culture and rites of passage in the countries that have influenced Spanish culture, life and literatures.
ReplyDeleteStudents who normally might not excel in a traditional pencil and paper assessments usually have a chance to excel. This shows me that we must learn to assess the whole child. We are not all talented in the same area.
I use technogy to have students look up information on countries. The only problem with this is that some sites are pure propaganda.The most current information is not always accessible. For example, the background of Mexico with drug lords taking over the federales' power and Venezuela, having the government dictate what can be printed about Venezuela.
Some students are under the impression that their teachers do not know how to use technology and so they print without changing a word.It is unfortunate that in some cases, the children are actually right.
I have gone around this by asking students to submit information in outline form. The printers who plagiarize everything do not receive a grade for paragraphs.
One of the wonderful things about technology is that students can now see a pinata being made step by step. They can stop the video at any time and keep it going. Students may click on the mask they may wish to make and directions will be supplied. This was not aveilable when I started working on crafts projects a few years ago.
I am also able to access lesson plans for specific movies, such as Carlos Saura's flamenco version of Federico Carcia Lorca's
BLOOD WEDDING. I can make puzzles and even put my homework on line, if I so desire. Unfortunately, not all students will be tuned the computer, even if they have one at home.
I have been using technology in my Intervention math class (Apangea learning) but I after this PD i now understand I need to do more than use what is already programmed for me.
ReplyDeleteIn the near future I hope to set a class website in which alternative assessment in the form of project work will be posted. Meanwhile before the year ends I will use performance assessment in my geometry class to assess understanding of Pythagorean theorem.
Alternative assessment is a good thing and sure give teachers a way to evaluate students at a broader level. I agree with the authors that paper and pencil test is one dimensional and doesnt capture the overall ability of students.
ReplyDeleteI currently use TI-83 calculator in my class and students enjoy manipulating variables to see effects of different phenomena under study.
As the year come to a close I will have students do an authentic assessment on application of the quadratic graph content
I read the ERIC Digest article and though it was very helpful. I especially liked the performance based assessment s sections. Honestly, I'll read this more closely at home where I can concentrate better.
ReplyDeleteThe Promethean board was installed in my classroom over break and it's very exciting. I've used the laptops off-line over the past several weeks. My students have loved it and are totally engaged on hands-on creative projects based on literature. Now that we are on-line and able to do research, the opportunities are even more exciting.
I intend to do a project based long term assignment with alternative assessments focused on technology and the use of the laptops within the next 3 weeks. Plan includes a Harlem Renaissance exhibit.
1. Most of the technology I use in the classroom is for research purposes due to the availability of only (1) computer in the classroom. The students have utilized the computer for research paper samples, defining, paragraph structuring and examples of writing styles as well as creating advertisements and commercials(Public Speaking).
ReplyDelete2. The article I read was entitled "Teaching Today" and it was utilized as a refresher with some new ideas on the usage of Performance Assessments and Authentic Assessments.
3. I haven't had a great opportunity to work with the students on Portfolio Assessment types, but I would love to plan for usage during the upcoming school year.
4. I will do more Authentic Assessments in the class before the end of the school year.
Each month the students in my classes, Day and E.O.P. do projects and investigations. Some students shine when they can accomplish a task other than testing.It gives students a chance to use research techniques as an alternative to assessments and the use of technology in learning.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is the great equalizer in today's society. I believe technology provides excellent feedback to both teachers and students. In teaching Physical Education, a video provides Authentic Assessment whereby the individual can view his performance. It has been used in Sports Evaluation on a High School collegiate and professional level. I believe in alternative assessments where students have an opportunity to use their multiple intelligences.
ReplyDelete1. As a special Education Teacher I feel that using technology in my classroom is a must. Students are driven by electronic devices and computers, so why not use them for our advantage. I often assign web searches to coincide with the lesson that I am teaching. Also knowing something about myspace and other "cool" websites helps to build a rapport with the students.
ReplyDelete2. The article that I found most helpful was the one that simply listed alternative forms of assessment. It was great to see that so many things that I already use in the classroom are considered alternative assessment.
3. I have started using portfolios. Portfolios are an excellent way for students to track their own learning though out the school year. Students are responsible for adding their own artifacts that show what they have learned. Often times not just test or written assignments are placed in the portfolio, but drawings, models or thoughts are also archived.
4. The form of alternative assessment that I will use before the end of the school year is comic strips. I am going to have students pick a topic of choice (with teacher guidance) and students will illustrate the concept using comic strip form with dialog.
I THINK foldables are a great kinethetic learning activity/assessment. Foldables make technology into something students can remember/recall easier.
ReplyDeleteI will try to use foldables when we discover asymptotes and limits, which are difficult concepts that are needed to be successful in calculus.
Kane
The foldables pd was helpful but I was lucky enough to be present at a lecture of Ms Dykes. She showed so many different ways that foldables could be used.Foldables are used in my classroom for study guides mostly but I am looking to implement them as more of an assessment tool. They have been useful in my classes as they involve moving, and cutting and creativity. This practice or intervention has been useful in helping to engage the students.
ReplyDeleteThe PD was very relavent and a reminder that there are allot of different learning style in each individual classroom. Also just we because teachers learn a certain way that means we might tend to lean towards teaching that style and we have to include all the different learning style so each student has a chance to succeed.
ReplyDelete