Looking more closely at assessments

It's that time again.....back to school! The summer is flying by and as I look ahead at the upcoming year, I begin to think about new ways to promote technology integration to enhance student knowledge and further create an environment where students are responsible for their own learning. Having done some faculty training on the Understanding by Design (UbD) template for our SIS, the focus is clearly on a meaningful curriculum directed towards student learning outcomes and goals. With that in mind, how we assess student performance is key to helping students retain information in the long run. Edutopia's recent article,"Assessment, Choice, and the Learning Brain,"articulates this concept of providing students with a deeper understanding of lessons taught. It reinforces the question,"what should students know and be able to do?" As stated in Edutopia, "every year, we need to assess every student in multiple, developmentally appropriate ways." By using an Assessment Tic-Tac-Toe, teachers can offer differentiation in the classroom to address all learning types and show a student's strengths while also giving the option to develop new skills. Technology plays an important role in these assessments and is a wonderful way to keep students engaged in the process. I look forward to the upcoming school year and marvel at how the simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe can change the way students gain knowledge! XOXO!