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Re: Grading & Assessing
I am an educator. This summer my wife/evaluator
and I decided to tackle some DIY projects around the house. She had the visions, and I executed the plans.
1/13
Re: Grading & Assessing
I am an educator. This summer my wife/evaluator
and I decided to tackle some DIY projects around the house. She had the visions, and I executed the plans.1/13
By the time August 1 rolled around, my overall DIY home projects grade was a B-.
Not bad, right? Would you hire me for some work around your home? I am always looking for summer work. What would you ask me to do?
2/13
Not bad, right? Would you hire me for some work around your home? I am always looking for summer work. What would you ask me to do?
2/13
Well, hopefully you didn't invite me over to fix the plumbing at your house.
Although my overall DIY grade was a B-, you had no idea that I broke a PVC pipe in my bathroom while working on the plumbing and fixed it with Krazy Glue. Yikes.
3/13
Although my overall DIY grade was a B-, you had no idea that I broke a PVC pipe in my bathroom while working on the plumbing and fixed it with Krazy Glue. Yikes.
3/13
What if instead, my grades were reported in this manner:
Fire Pit Construction: A
PlaySet Beautification: B
Landscaping: B
Electrical Work: A
Plumbing: D
Painting Rooms: B
Bathroom Remodel: C
Nightstand Construction: F
That's a lot more helpful, isn't it?
4/13
Fire Pit Construction: A
PlaySet Beautification: B
Landscaping: B
Electrical Work: A
Plumbing: D
Painting Rooms: B
Bathroom Remodel: C
Nightstand Construction: F
That's a lot more helpful, isn't it?
4/13
Now the client can clearly see where my skill sets lie. Would you hire me now? Probably for certain jobs, right?
Wouldn't it also be nice if I had the opportunity to learn and grow in my areas of need? Perhaps my plumbing skills, for example.
5/13
Wouldn't it also be nice if I had the opportunity to learn and grow in my areas of need? Perhaps my plumbing skills, for example.
5/13
As the summer rolled to an end, I was completely satisfied with my overall grade of B-. My D in plumbing and F in nightstand construction were offset by solid work in other areas.
But my wife/evaluator disagreed. She could see that I had much more potential.
6/13
But my wife/evaluator disagreed. She could see that I had much more potential.
6/13
She allowed me the opportunity to relearn in the areas which I needed more support. And she allowed me to redo the projects until they were perfect. Yay!
Why would she do this?
Well, because she believes in me!
7/13
Why would she do this?
Well, because she believes in me!
7/13
By the time August 20 rolled around, my new summer DIY grade was an A.
I could have easily given up on my plumbing abilities earlier in the summer had I wanted to, since my other work masked my struggles in that area.
8/13
I could have easily given up on my plumbing abilities earlier in the summer had I wanted to, since my other work masked my struggles in that area.
8/13
Instead, I learned that I could grow in areas which were once very difficult for me. Through the support of my wife/evaluator, I took risks and persevered. I now have plumbing skills that were once non-existent.
9/13
9/13
Thankfully, when determining my new plumbing grade for the summer, my wife/evaluator did not average my plumbing attempts. This would have falsified my grade.
If I became a master plumber by the end of the summer, why would we average in my earlier struggles?
10/13
If I became a master plumber by the end of the summer, why would we average in my earlier struggles?
10/13
A grade should reflect what students can do in that exact moment.
It's time to report grades for students so they can be interpreted in a meaningful way. What do they know? Where can they learn more?
Then, give them the time & resources to grow in their areas of need.
11/13
It's time to report grades for students so they can be interpreted in a meaningful way. What do they know? Where can they learn more?
Then, give them the time & resources to grow in their areas of need.
11/13
Let's move away from the dreaded average. It falsifies grades.
Let's use our professional judgement and communicate throughout the process.
Standards Based Grading can help do all of these things.
Let's break away from traditional practices. It's time!
12/13
Let's use our professional judgement and communicate throughout the process.
Standards Based Grading can help do all of these things.
Let's break away from traditional practices. It's time!
12/13
Now it's time for me to get back to those nightstands. I know I can do better!
Stay Safe.
13/13
Stay Safe.
13/13
