PSSD – Assessment Focus Groups Year 1: 2009-2010
Use this profile to track your improvement as you implement new assessment practices. You will be asked to assess your practice three times: currently (Year 1), putting into practice (Year 2), or at the end of the project (Year 3+). To record your data, simply write Y1 across from each step and under one of the stages. Once you have completed the checklist, review the patterns that you see.
Which description (aware, skill-building or intentional) best describes the stage you are at?
A Dozen Steps to
PLANNING WITH THE END IN MIND / AWARENESS STAGE / SKILL BUILDING STAGE / INTENTIONAL STAGE
I’m planning but I haven’t been able to try this out in my classroom yet. / There is more to this than I thought. I am trying this in one course and/or grade. / I am more deliberate in doing this across my courses and/or grades.
IDENTIFY DESIRED LEARNINGS
I identify essential learning targetsbased on the curriculum.
I put learning targetsin student-friendly language.
I clearly communicate the standards for those targets
(through t-charts, rubrics, showing samples, etc.).
I determine which essential learnings I will teach at specific times (e.g. content) and which go all year
(e.g. skills).
DETERMINE ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE
I link tasks/assignments to learning targets.
I identify which tasks are essential/culminating versus those that are formative/building. Only essential assignments are marked.
I provide more than one opportunity for students to demonstrate that they know or can do the essentials.
I plan regular opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning through performance and oral tasks as well as written tasks.
I match the appropriate tool to the task
(rubric, checklist, scoring guide, etc.).
I plan how I will track student progress (summative and formative).
PLAN LEARNING EXPERIENCES
I plan for students to get lots of practice with essential learnings.
I plan how I will provide regular and specific feedback to students to help them improve before I mark.
Adapted from Nelson Education Ltd.