assessing student learning

Assessing student learning at the end of a project is key, and is often the only moment when you're focused on assessment. However, tracking progress throughout the project is equally important. Use these tips and tools to embed both formative and summative assessment into your units.

Formative assessment strategies

The main purpose of periodic assessment during a project should be to provide students with direction to revise and improve their products and their understanding.

• • Group evaluation: As you'll see in the Learning Modules, group work is a vital component of Coast Connections. So, it is also vital that you perform some assessment at the group level.

    • • During each group work session, do some informal assessment as you observe students. Are students prepared for team work with the necessary materials? Are they honest and respectful with each other's opinions? Are they supporting each other to perform their assigned roles and tasks?

      • Have students do some self-assessment at the end of each group work session. PBLWorks provides some excellent tools, including this rubric for K-2 teamwork and this rubric for Grades 3-5 collaboration.

      • At the end of each work session, ask each group to review their Project Team Contract. Are they fulfilling their promises? Do they need to talk about any problems, or ask you for help?

      • Use anonymous peer evaluation, such as this template, to allow students to safely share their thoughts and concerns about team members.

  • Individual evaluation: Use reflection exercises to prompt each student to think about their progress throughout the project. Ask them to write down their thoughts, or share them aloud. Check out this self-reflection rubric for ideas. Some sample ideas for prompts include:

    • • What do you wish you did differently today?

      • What part did you do your best work on?

      • What did you enjoy the most? The least?

      • What is one thing you learned today that you'd like to tell someone about?

  • More strategies for assessment throughout the project:

    • • Journals or learning logs

      • Surveys (individual, group, or whole class)

      • Fishbowl discussion

      • Exit tickets

Summative assessment strategies

Assessment tools used at the conclusion of the project will help you understand how well students met their goals, and what you may wish to change the next time you teach a similar unit.

• • Decide whether you will be giving group grades or individual grades at the end of the project. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. Group grades work best if group work is an essential part of the project, as it is with almost all Coast Connections units. However, this method doesn't reflect extraordinary individual contributions, and may inappropriately benefit those students who are not contributing as much. Therefore, if you decide to give group grades, make sure that the final grade is only a small proportion of the total grade, with individual formative assessments also significantly counting towards the total.

  • You may wish to use a quiz as part of the final grade to specifically gauge understanding of topics. Make sure quiz questions can only be answered by those who have been thoroughly involved with the project. Use a mix of multiple choice and short answer format to get a clearer picture of learning.

  • For all Coast Connections projects, there is some sort of presentation of work at the end. This is a great opportunity for assessment of both knowledge and skills gained. Use this rubric for K-2 or this rubric for 3-5 to record achievements for each student. You can also distribute these rubrics before the presentations, to guide students in preparing the skills they'll need.

Quantitative vs Qualitative

Quantitative evaluation uses tools such as multiple-choice quizzes and surveys that provides number data only, while qualitative tools - such as student journals, essays, reflection worksheets, etc. - provide more detailed information. Too often, the emphasis for teachers is to use quantitative assessments that can be easily graded and entered into the gradebook. Such tools are not subjective, meaning teachers don't have to make decisions about how to assign grades, and thus are sometimes viewed as more fair.

However, for Coast Connections projects, the most important feedback you'll get will be qualitative. Quizzes can be used sparingly to gain insight about technical understanding of topics, but you'll want most of your assessment to be more open-ended. After all, how can you quantify a student touching a sea star for the first time? Or assign a letter grade for creativity in designing an image? Much about PBL cannot, and should not, be distilled into numbers. So give a test at the end if you must, but don't rely solely on those numbers to indicate student growth.

Further reading

PBL Assessment: Edutopia

PBLWorks Assessment Resource List

Authentic Assessment Toolbox

Students and audience in project assessment