Tips & Tricks

How do we assess what we see?

Step 1: Decide WHAT you are going to be evaluating, and familiarize yourself with look-fors for levels. Choose one expectation to focus on to keep it more manageable.

Overall: demonstrate an understanding of constant rate of change and its connection to linear relations. (assign a level to this)

Specific: determine, through investigation, that the rate of change of a linear relation can be found by choosing any two points on the line that represents the relation, finding the vertical change between the points (i.e., the rise) and the horizontal change between the points (i.e., the run), and writing the ratio.

Step 2: Be specific with how you are going to evaluate that expectation.

Step 3: Replace "effectiveness" in a rubric with...

Appropriateness, Clarity, Directness, Accuracy, Precision, Logic, Relevance, Significance, Fluency, Flexibility, Depth, Breadth, Functionality, Mastery, Efficiency, Certainty, Confidence, Pertinence...

This process allows us to have clear expectations in our mind as we move around the classroom with our digital or paper checklists/rubrics.

What else can I use to "capture" observations & conversations?

Tools that can be used to take photos to be used as part of an assessment:

  • Knowledge Hook Game Show
  • Nearpod
  • Instagram
  • Google Slides

Tools that create videos and allow students to capture their own thinking:

  • Explain Everything
  • Show Me
  • Screencastify

On-the-go:

  • Use a Google Form in combination with your Apple Watch!

Don't add more to your workload...

Remember that we should be assessing conversations and observations along with products (not, "in addition to" products). When you choose to assess classroom observations, consider that assessment replacing a traditional product-based assessment.

Start the Paradigm Shift!

Just as this may feel very different for us, it may be very different for our students, too!

Students may initially be reluctant to be “observed.” Take some time to introduce tools, discuss changes in assessment, etc. You may also want to layer in peer assessment or self-assessment.