ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES FOR 21ST CENTURY LEARNING

Traditionally we've assessed learning by testing. Most testing only tests the lower level thinking skills (Knowledge and Comprehension, and possibly Application). When we test we want to find out if our learners can recall spit back the information. This is ONE form of assessment, and it does have value. It is a good form formative assessment to help learners and teachers know what still needs to be learned. Unfortunately, because of the ease in grading, multiple choice, true/false and fill in the blank type tests are often used summatively; however, not all learners do well on these kind of tests even if they know the material. It is easy to over-think these test, or for these tests to be not well constructed and consequently have some ambiguity in the answer choices.  All too often we are testing a learner's test taking skills rather than whether or not he or she has mastered the content or skills.  For that reason we will sometimes use essay tests to measure a what our learners have learned.  Again, not all learners do well on these tests even when they have understood the content and know how to use the skills.  Sometimes learners have difficulty expressing what they know in essay format or organizing their thoughts within the time limit.  This does not mean they have not learned the content or skills.  So, the question becomes how do we measure what learners have really learned.  Ask yourself:

• How do we know that our some of our learners did not more have prior knowledge that other learners? 
• How do we know that the learners with less prior knowledge have acturally learned more that those who had a lot of prior knowledge. 
• If we grade these tests of a bell shaped curve, are we measuring each learners actual learning or are we just comparing learners to each other? 
  

In most school we still need to assign grades.  Although we will look at competency based learning in this module, until our schools/districts/state move in this direction, how will you know what your learners have actually learned as a result of the project they've done?

Think about assessment of, for and AS learning. Consider the differences.  Think about how you use assessment.  What is assessment like in a traditional classroom?  What should assessment be in a 21st Century classroom.  How can you create assessments that are learning experiences for your learners?

Select 3 of the following resources to read or view. 

• Assessment: A 21st Century Implementation Guide
• Formative Assessment Tools for 21st Century Learning
• 21st Century Assessment Skills
• Assessment in 21st Century Classrooms
• Assessing 21st Century Skills: A Guide to Mastering Authentic Learning
• Classroom Assessments for a New Century
• Assessment of Project Based Learning (Be sure to explore a few of the links)
• Tips for Teachers: Assessing Project Based Learning
• Best Practices in PBL Assessment
• 53 Ways t Check for Understanding
  

As you review the above resources think carefully about how you will assess learning in your final project plan: 

• How will you know exactly what your learners have learned?
• How will you involve your learners in expressing what they have learned, and what they need/want to learn more about? 
• How will you and your learners use formative assessment strategies to help them guide their own learning, and to help you guide them? 
• What is the role of summative assessments? 
• Are traditional summative assessments (tests/quizzes) the best method for really knowing what your learners have learned? 
• How can learner presentations for a real audience help them improve their learning outcomes?
• To what extent will your learners determine how they want their learning to be assessed?
• How will your learners prove to you what they have really learned? 

Use your thinking on this and what you learn in the resources on assessment that you review to guide your assessment strategies for your final project plan.

COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING

Our current Carnegie Unit "seat time" and grade level by age was set up more than years ago in an attempt to standardize education. The current move in 21st Century education is to move away from the Carnegie Unit model to a competency based learning model. The State of New Hampshire has not implemented a competency based model of education.

Explore the 2 of the following articles about NH Hamphsire's initiative:

• New Hampshire Schools Roll Out Competency Based Learning Model
• NH Department of Education: State Model Competencies
• New Hampshire's Journey Toward Competency Based Educaton
• Taking Competency Based Learning from Policy to Reality
• New Hampshire Rocks Competency Education Policy
• NH Dept. of Education: College and Career Competencies Aligned with Common Core
  

Review 1 of the following articles about the Carnegie Unit:

Select and explore 2 of the following resourses on competency based learning

• P-Chat Archive: Competency Based Learning
• What is Competency Based Education?
• Moving from Time to Competency
• Competency Based: It's All About the Learning NOT Time
• What's New in K-12 Competency Education?

Consider whether the competency based model of learning is a better model than the traditional model.

1. How might you or your school move to a competency based model?
2. Why might you want to do this? 
3. What challenges might you face if you do move to this model?  What are the benefits for your learners?

 PROJECT PLANNING

Add your assessment strategies to your project plan.  As you do this consider:

• How will you give your learners a voice and choice in HOW they will prove to you that they have mastered the content and skills?
• How will you use formative assessments to help learners master the content and skills?
• Which formative assessment strategies will you use?
• What summative assessment strategies will you use, and how will you know that these strategies really assess what learners know and can do as a result of this project?

Noam Chomsky on Testing

Watch this video of Noam Chomsky about the harm we do with the way education uses testing.  Think carefully about his point of view.