It’s high time that we take control over assessments! For too long, we, as educators, have based our teaching on THE test. Sure we followed curriculum, but our assessments mimicked that of THE test. I, for one, am tired of being a slave to test makers. Not only do they get to decide how my students will prove their knowledge, they’re also making boku bucks off of the deal. I know, doesn’t sound right. I say, let’s start a revolution!
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I realize that the tests aren’t going away anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean I have to continue to be a slave to them. I believe that if I allow a student to show me their knowledge in the form of their choice, they will, in most cases, be able to transfer that knowledge to any meaningless, fill-in-the-bubble test.
There is a problem with this new way of thinking. I have to have buy in from administrators, parents, and students. They have to also see the value in alternative assessments. I have had administrators say that alternative assessments were good, but in reality, they weren’t okay with it all. I take part of the blame for this. I didn’t document the assessment properly. One particular assessment was when I had 2nd graders label the parts of a flower. The students created 3D flowers and labeled the parts with stickers. That was great, but the project then went home. What I SHOULD have done was to take video or pictures of the process and final products. But even then I’m not sure this particular administrator would have been convinced.
So what do I do now? I use web tools! There are a ton of free web tools that allow students to show their knowledge. As of late, I have been using: Go Animate!, Animoto, Voki, We Video, and upload videos straight to Vimeo (YouTube is blocked in my district), Edublogs, and house everything on my Google Site. I currently have students working together to create a website on decimals. Many of their assessments are being housed there. Soon, my students will archive their work on their own e-portfolio (Google Site). These are just a few of the tools that my students are using. They use them for all subjects. These are 5th graders, but have used Google Sites with 3rd graders. I would do this with almost any grade level. Look at the possibilities, not limitations.
Here a second language learner was able to explain how 6.42 rounds to 6.4 using Voki. She wrote it out and was able to type it in Voki. It is clear that she understands the concept, and it’s way more interesting to review than a boring piece of paper.
So let’s stand up, and show testing companies how REAL assessments look! Let the revolution begin.
I have been on an amazing journey over the last 2 years, educationally speaking of course. And the CUE Organization has had a large role in that. It began 2 years ago at my first CUE Conference. A friend, Pat, and I decided that we would like to attend Fall CUE in Napa, CA. First on our agenda was an all day Google Workshop. The workshop focused on passing the required tests in order to become Google Certified Trainers. It was also my first introduction to Alice Keeler and Danny Silva – Awesome Educational Heroes. To say that we were inspired, would be an understatement. At one point during the day, Pat and I looked at each other and vowed that that would be us one day (referring to Alice and Danny – Google Certified Teachers and AMAZING inspirations).
I am still inspired by Alice and Danny, but my inspirations also include over 900 people. For it was at Fall CUE 2011 that I began to see and understand the power of Twitter. I really began to focus on growing my Twitter PLN within the last year. I have met, virtually and in person, the most amazing, inspiring, and awesome educators. I have had the privilege to learn from and present with many of my ‘Educational Heroes’. As a result, my teaching has been reinvigorated. I am once again inspired to do amazing things in the classroom. As I prepare to present at Fall CUE 2013, I can only hope to be an inspiration to others.
