Assessment is no longer just a big test at the end of a unit. Instead, it is an integral part of day-to-day teaching. Teachers have always know that assessment was important, as it is the way to gauge if the students are learning what they are supposed to be learning, but it is becoming increasingly important in classrooms. Teachers must constantly be checking "the pulse" of the classroom by monitoring the learning of the students. On the surface, it may seem that the teacher is monitoring behavior, as he/she may be circling the room and listening to students in both activities. However, when monitoring behavior, they are looking for note passing, distracting conversations, heated conversations, etc. When monitoring learning, though, teachers are closely looking at the work of students and listening to their conversations to determine whether they understand the concepts. In addition, the questions posed by teachers may be assumed to be questions for deepening understanding, when in reality they are questions to check for understanding. When checking for understanding, teachers will ask questions in order to reveal misconceptions that students may have, but when deepening understanding, teachers will ask questions that encourage students to build their schema, as stressed in component 3b: using questioning and discussion techniques. An example of questions to monitor learning could be exit slips or questions designed by students to check understanding. Elements of component 3d include:
Assessment Criteria
Students must be perfectly aware of the criterion on which they will be assessed in order to have a good assessment. It is best if students can help develop this criteria.
Monitoring of Student Learning
One key mark of a master teacher is the ability to elicit evidence of student understanding. These efforts must be carefully planned, and yet seamlessly integrated into the lesson, with a variety of techniques.
Feedback to Students
In classes of mine where the teacher did not give feedback on my work, it was very frustrating to guess at what I was doing well and what I was struggling with. Feedback is crucial for students to grow in their learning. Thus, as teachers we must provide timely, constructive, and substantive feedback to help our students to grow. This feedback should come from a multitude of sources, including other students.
Students Self-Assessment and Monitoring of Progress
The climax of student responsibility in learning is reached when students monitor their own learning and respond accordingly. In order to do this, however, students must have clear criteria and have practice checking work against criteria.
Implementing in the Classroom/Artifacts Demonstrating Competency
Assessment Criteria
Students must be perfectly aware of the criterion on which they will be assessed in order to have a good assessment. It is best if students can help develop this criteria.
Monitoring of Student Learning
One key mark of a master teacher is the ability to elicit evidence of student understanding. These efforts must be carefully planned, and yet seamlessly integrated into the lesson, with a variety of techniques.
Feedback to Students
In classes of mine where the teacher did not give feedback on my work, it was very frustrating to guess at what I was doing well and what I was struggling with. Feedback is crucial for students to grow in their learning. Thus, as teachers we must provide timely, constructive, and substantive feedback to help our students to grow. This feedback should come from a multitude of sources, including other students.
Students Self-Assessment and Monitoring of Progress
The climax of student responsibility in learning is reached when students monitor their own learning and respond accordingly. In order to do this, however, students must have clear criteria and have practice checking work against criteria.
Implementing in the Classroom/Artifacts Demonstrating Competency
- Teacher walks around the class and listens to student conversations during small group discussions, and jumps in to clarify when necessary
- Teacher gives both positive and constructive feedback on student work
- When returning student work, teacher adds meaningful notes and does simply give the grade
- Students monitor understanding, and when they do not understand they ask for help
- Teacher uses exit slips with questions designed to check understanding, using tools such as Google Forms
- After writing an essay, students evaluate each other's work based on teacher-provided criteria
- Students help develop criteria for a presentation
- Use Plickers during a lesson to check for understanding
- Use Kaizena to give students oral feedback
- Photo labeled for reuse
- (2018). Static.pdesas.org. Retrieved 6 April 2018, from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/danielson_rubric_53.pdf