Element 1
Learning Goals and Scales
"Learning targets [and scales] convey to students the destination for the lesson [and unit], what to learn, how deeply to learn it, and exactly how to demonstrate their new learning.... Without a precise description of where they are headed, too many students are "flying blind."
~ Moss, Brookhart, Long (2011)
Desired Effect:
The teacher provides learning goals and/or targets, both of which are embedded in a performance scale that includes application of knowledge.
Purpose:
- Students performance increase when learning goals are clear.
- Monitoring progress through the use of specific scales enables students to self-reflect and take ownership of their learning.
- Clear goals and scales are helpful for providing specific feedback.
- Scales allow students to see their progress.
- Scales highlight the skills and knowledge that relate to the levels of mastery.
- Scales are a formative assessment of students' learning guiding them toward mastery.
- Scales help teachers 'chunk' content into appropriate 'bites' students can handle.
Teacher Evidence for Learning Goals and Scales
Student Evidence for Learning Goals and Scales
- Posted for reference
- Identifies knowledge and are aligned to state standards
- References are made to the learning goal and target
- The scale builds a progression of knowledge
- Classroom activities relate to the scale
- Explain the learning goal and target
- Explain how their current activity relates to the overall goals
- Understand the levels of performance in the scale
- Shares artifacts which demonstrate each level
Scale