Diversifying Assessments

Throughout the year, I looked into different ways to assess my students knowledge.  I rarely use a standard assessment in these classes since it is a related arts class. For this reason, I always look for other ways to determine their knowledge base.

I was trying to find something different, outside of the box from what I've done before.  I came across a document from the University of Kent that had some good ideas put together in one place.

I tried to increase creativity, allowing students to create comics.  I had students make movies, take pictures of their work and complete documents.  One of the assignments that I planned yet did not get to do due to a lack of time was one that I was looking forward to where students would create a timeline by taping note cards around the room based on the reading assignment that they were completing on the Space Race between Russia and the US.

One of my goals is to try more creative ways to assess student learning, and allow students to pick their own style and what works best for them.  I would like to add more self assessment, which is one thing I did attempt with one assignment.  Students had to grade themselves on their own rubric.  They were actually very honest, leading me to think this is something that I could incorporate more in  the future.

http://www2.wlv.ac.uk/celt/howto/top%20ten%20tips%20for%20diversyfing%20assessment.pdf

computer lab management

Some of the research I have done this year, other than rubrics, included management in the class, especially from the ones making choo choo trains with rolling chairs... I have had some difficulties keeping students focused on what they should be doing when they are in class, and keeping them from wandering to alternative websites.
I guess the best way to stop this has been to keep them busy.  Another item that has helped has been using cups like a traffic light... Red means they need immediate assistance, yellow for a question and white for cruising... This has helped with management a TON and I am grateful for the suggestion.
I have also read some posts, and articles about how to maintain management in the computer lab, and a majority of these are talking about classes not based in labs, or often they were based on elementary school children.
I am still open to ideas!... I set expectations and rules, I let this kids know what to do for their work, I establish something for the kids to do if they finish early... other than consequences for actions, I have yet to find a great way to make sure that students are on task all the time... I use software that displays their computer screens so I can try to keep an eye out...

Update on rubrics

So one of the things that I have been fortunate to have is an online rubric/grading system that sometimes simplifies, sometimes complicates my life.  While everything is electronic and easy to take home, its web based and depends on internet... so no working on my grading waiting in a doctors office or while my kids are at soccer games.  The rubric method does help, and I like the simplicity of it.  There are times though, I wish I was not dependent on internet for everything.. .those days our internet goes down, frantic last minute plans are so fun to make up!

I have found a resource that seems easy so far... 

http://www.rcampus.com/indexrubric.cfm

for grading rubrics online that are simple clicks once you make them... I have yet to use them, but I really do want to use the rubric on pltw or this one more often next year, especially going around grading projects on a regular basis... 

I have learned so many pros and cons to teaching with pltw curriculum and missing some of the freedom I had as a core teacher, but loving the flexibility of what I get to teach and how I teach.  As I learn more, I think I will have the freedom to advance in what I do and change things, but at the moment, I still feel a little curriculum bound... being in the shadow of Sjolander is a bit tough and those kids who had him I think tend to find the classes a bit boring, but I am working on making them fun while sticking to the curriculum!

Blog 2 -

My students use the 4C's often in class.  The collaborate with one another constantly.  They work in teams, as engineers would, to complete tasks.  They need to use creativity, for example, in green architecture when they are creating a house using 4 recycled shipping containers.  They have to communicate in various ways for the class, by writing in their notebooks, creating powerpoints and google slides, making videos/animoto movies etc.  They are always asked to think critically about their project based learning activities to solve real world problems.