Goal 10
The development of ability to use assessment and evaluation practices in a thoughtful and ethical manner:
One area of relative strength that I have is my ability to develop curriculum materials that utilize relevant learning resources and technologies. While I have sometimes struggled with getting the technology to work as planned, I have been able to modify my program going forward to anticipate and help prevent these difficulties in the future. Some examples of utilizing relevant resources and technologies has been through beginning webpages to showcase students’ developing writing ability, science blogs to showcase students’ learning, and online galleries to showcase their creative projects. We will be creating eBooks as an alternative to the more traditional Stand and Deliver method of presenting learned knowledge of Ancient Egyptian culture.
Another thing I am good at is understanding that assessment, in its many guises, is foundational to effective and powerful learning. I have engaged in assessment for learning using KWL charts and peer to peer discussion, assessment as learning through temperature checks and monitoring students understanding of concepts through reviewed assignments, and assessment of learning through the more traditional methods of testing as well as allowing students alternate methods of demonstrating their ability such as creating about me websites instead of a traditional written biography. My methods of final assessment include traditional (Quizzes, drills, homework, spelling tests, unit tests, written work – chapter summaries and notes), peer-evaluation, self-evalutaion, teacher observation, assessment through conversation, group presentations, and group products.