The Opt-Out Movement. Have you heard of it? I hadn't until I found an article on Twitter addressing the meaning of formative assessments. As hesitant as I was to Twitter and social media, I found it to be a huge learning resource. There are articles after articles addressing various learning techniques and educational issues.
We have been taught what formative assessments are, but the real question is 'what do we do with the assessment?'. The article begins by talking about the issues that teachers and students are facing. We have been partaking in end-of-year testing for quite sometime. Many people feel that these assessments aren't serving their purpose or helping develop student education. Many teachers don't receive test scores back until the following year. This means that teachers aren't able to look at student progress and help students go in the right direction that is needed. Due to all of the problems with this kind of assessment, teachers are joining the Opt-Out Movement and looking more to formative assessments. This allows teachers to have developing, on-going assessments throughout the year.
After formative assessments have been given, there are 3 main questions that we need to address.
1. Where are my students going?
2. Where are my students now?
3. How do I close my gap?
Basically, these questions help us determine where are students need to be, how far do they have to get there, and how can we help them reach that point? Before planning lessons we need to decide what exactly we expect our students to know. If we can determine where the students already are, we can then determine the steps that need to be taken to reach the end product. This allows teachers to collaborate, reflect, and redirect.
I feel that this especially applies to future teachers. I think that more and more teachers are becoming aware of end-of-year testing. The hope is that there will be change in our near future. We need to be aware of the alternative assessments and how they can help us. I feel that in my future classroom, formative assessments will be my most valuable tool. This will allows me to evaluate not only my students, but also myself.
This all, of course, connects to standard 5 of the teaching standards. Teachers are to reflect on their practice and analyze student learning. This allows teachers to grow and help their students grow.
Look up 'Opt-Out Movement' to find out more
Click on the link below to learn more about formative assessments:
http://www.mentoringminds.com/blog/infographic-assessment-for-learning/
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point that it is as simple as looking at the direction in which our students. Even then, it is also important to look at where we want them to go. I like how you broke it down into 3 steps. I think the biggest issue many educators have with formative assessment is how to replace it or find alternatives. Good read!
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteThis is shocking. I don not believe that these students can not tell the progress of their students when they have been with them for so many months. Plus with all the stuff we have been learning in our classes it almost seems impossible for this to occur in a classroom. Lets be grateful that we are being taught how to monitor out students progress with formative and summative assessment.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteThe three questions for formative assessment are CRUCIAL. I am glad you included this in your blog. PLEASE continue to learn more about how to effectively embed these questions in your work so you can be the best teacher possible. Good find this week!
Great post Lauren! This was a great insight into this issue. I know as much as I have heard on Twitter and other teachers, this has been a problem for sure. It is pointless to test anything if we are not using the data to empower students and help develop their learning. I like the idea of a co-op with teachers gathering the data they need on students to facilitate the best methods and teaching methods to help them learn more. It is so easy for students to fall through the cracks if we are not careful and get further and further behind.
ReplyDelete