Two Rivers Public Charter Schools

How might we assess deeper learning competencies like effective reasoning, problem solving, and decision making?

Two Rivers Public Charter School in Washington, DC defines student success not just in terms of core content and basic skills, but also as interpersonal skills like collaboration and communication; character development; and cognitive skills like effective reasoning and problem solving. The school cultivates these competencies through practices like extended projects (learning expeditions) and student led conferences. To measure these more cognitive skills, Two Rivers has developed a set of performance tasks and rubrics aligned to “thinking routines.” Together, these tools clearly define complex constructs like problem solving and critical thinking. When students and teachers share a common language for these constructs, teachers can include them in curriculum and project design, and students can show what they know and get valuable feedback to help them grow. Two Rivers is now leading a cohort of DC schools in developing their own measures of deeper learning.

Prototypes & Artifacts

Rubrics & Tasks

Video on Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: How Two Rivers defines these two constructs, which is necessary before developing assessments.

Assessment for Deeper Learning: How Two Rivers is assessing the critical thinking and problem solving constructs. Also defines the difference between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning

Decision Making: What teaching decision making as a thinking routine looks like

Effective Reasoning: The effective reasoning thinking routine

Problem Solving Last but not least the thinking type for problem solving.

Presentations of Learning

Website

• Learn with Two Rivers: Includes extensive practical resources and explanatory videos.

Blogs

• Assessment for Deeper Learning
• The Power of Linking Assessments of Problem Solving to Instruction
• Teachers at Two Rivers Roll Up Their Sleeves to Build Assessments from Scratch (Ed Surge, March 21, 2017)
• Student "Expeditions" Help Drive, Inspire Learning at D.C. Charter School (Education Writers Association, September 29, 2017)
• Yes, We Can Define, Teach, and Assess Critical Thinking Skills (EdWeek, November 27, 2017)

Recognition and Awards

Two Rivers' Deeper Learning Assessment was recognized by HundrED as one of the top 100 education innovations in the world.

Videos

Student Voices

Presentation of Learning