We know assessments — both formative and summative — are critical components of teaching and learning, but so often they become straight-up burdens. At best, they can be boring and uninformative. At worst, they can take on a life of their own, and overtake what we know is most important in the learning process. This is perhaps best encapsulated by the fact that a 5th grade teacher is expected to guide students to mastery of 200 standards each year. That’s hardly enough time to properly master a new skillset, let alone adequately determine whether students truly understand the overall concept. In these circumstances, there’s a real risk that students will simply memorize the idea while only achieving a surface level comprehension.
So, how can teachers make the most out of their time while also applying assessment in a way that’s engaging and meaningful? We can start by accepting that not all standards are created equal. Some have limited application and require lower levels of critical thinking; others are foundational to future learning. A teacher can determine their level of need by implementing a scoring system to single out the standards that best align to their classroom. Consider scoring each standard 1-5 based on the following
categories:
- Building Block: How much future learning is dependent on this standard?
- Cross-Curricular Utility: How applicable is this standard across content areas?
- Higher Level Thinking: What depth of thinking does this standard require? Consider using our Standards Scoring Sheet to help you prioritize those power standards.
Once you’ve determined which are your power standards you can move on to experimenting with different assessment strategies. Here are just five ideas that can serve as an alternative to paper-and-pencil tests:
- 5-Word Challenge: Quickly assess how well students understand a topic while also developing their creative and critical thinking skills by challenging them to summarize their learning in 5 words or less (this can be on video or on paper or other mode of communication). See it in action (30-second video) with our students sharing what they learned about food webs in 5 words (more or less).
- Rank the Rubric: Have students complete a rubric, giving themselves a score for each category you designate. Then have them rank the categories from best to worst according to their level of mastery. This forces students to reflect on which categories they have more mastery of than others. You can then focus on the categories they self-identify as needing more help with.
- Teach Me Something: Simply ask students to teach you something. You can offer ½ credit if you learn something and ½ credit if they feel successful. It’s a great way to tap into what students know and are able to do while also gaining insights into what they are passionate about.
- Optional Outputs: Consider having students demonstrate their understanding using their choice of communication. Below are some ideas along with the free digital tools to bring them to life. For more ideas, visit this Tech in Pedagogy article.
- Infographics ( Infogram and Piktochart)
- Video slideshow (Animoto)
- Poster ( Pixlr )
- Podcast (Audacity)
- Blog (Blogger or WordPress)
- Website (Google Sites)
- Present and Defend: Have students share their work and defend their claim in response to constructive feedback. This allows you to see how students respond to challenges and how deep their understanding of the topic really goes. Great for developing a culture of risk-taking and developing students’ ability to exercise informed skepticism. Here is an example of a Present and Defend protocol used in science investigations. This is a great framework that can be adapted for all content areas and grade levels.
- Rank the Rubric: Have students complete a rubric, giving themselves a score for each category you designate. Then have them rank the categories from best to worst according to their level of mastery. This forces students to reflect on which categories they have more mastery of than others. You can then focus on the categories they self-identify as needing more help with.
- Teach Me Something: Simply ask students to teach you something. You can offer ½ credit if you learn something and ½ credit if they feel successful. It’s a great way to tap into what students know and are able to do while also gaining insights into what they are passionate about.
Teachers can spark student engagement simply by changing the way they assess their learning. As we step into the new year, we owe it to both students and ourselves to explore new ideas and make this last semester one to remember.
Terra Tarango is the Director and Education Officer for Van Andel Institute for Education, a Michigan- based education nonprofit dedicating to creating classrooms where curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking thrive. To learn more about Van Andel Institute for Education, visit vaei.org.
The Principal’s Desk was founded by Dr. David Franklin. Dr. Franklin is a Strategy Consultant for Nearpod, an experienced school administrator, education professor, curriculum designer, published author and presenter at national and international education conferences. He is also the co-author of “Can Every School Succeed” and the upcoming release: “Advice From The Principal’s Desk”.
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