Project Description

Background

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment of both student learning and achievement was evaluated by the teacher and the students. Both performance and standard based evaluation assessments were used. Additionally, informal assessments and teacher observations were ongoing throughout the lessons. Numerous standards were incorporated into to the project as shown on both the introductory Project Description and Technology pages of this site.

Instruments

The author believes strongly in involving the students in the development of appropriate assessments. However, time constraints due to serving the students only once a week prohibited that possibility during this project. Consequently, the author developed three formal assessment instruments: They are:

1. Timeline Rubric
2. Graph Rubric
3. Student Evaluation

Explanation

Based upon the rubric, the students were given a proposed grade for their timeline and offered an opportunity to give their feedback to the teacher. At the conclusion of the discussion the final grade was assigned.

Graph grading occurred on the spot, in the lab with the student seated and looking at the completed graph. The teacher would ask questions based upon the information that was supposed to be included in the specific graph. Students were given a proposed grade. They were then asked if they were satisfied with the grade or wanted to make corrections. Different personalities made different choices.

Assessment Table

Schoolwide Feedback

Students received an abundance of feedback from the two week airing of the International Slide show. Several students made reference to such in their project evaluations. At the time of this writing, the Profile slide shows are still a work in progress.

Classroom Policy

One final assessment tool involved the implementation of a zero tolerance policy for criticism or put-downs by one student to another. Orange cards were issued for breaking the classroom rule. The teacher’s grade book reveals that as a class we went from an average of five cards being issued early in the project to zero or at the most one being given at the conclusion.