Good evening and welcome to #sblchat! We are chatting about How to Use Technology to Enhance Standards Based Learning and Grading. Get ready to share some resources! Please start intros - Name, Role, Location
Katie, science teacher, tweeting from the snowy Chicagoland area. So happy to be moderating with the amazing @garnet_hillman and @RoweRikW tonight! #sblchat
I'm Garnet, an author and educational consultant from the southwest suburbs of Chicago. So happy to join my co-mods @RoweRikW and @KatieBudrow tonight! #sblchat
Ken O’Connor, author/consultant/sports fan in Toronto. Participating in #sblchat and watching semi-final of the Women’s U17 World Cup between Canada and Mexico. @CVULearns
I'm Garnet, an author and educational consultant from the southwest suburbs of Chicago. So happy to join my co-mods @RoweRikW and @KatieBudrow tonight! #sblchat
Like this tweet if you're new to #sblchat tonight so your Crew can welcome you to the conversation on integrating Tech into your Standards-Based Learning environments. #TechTools
Right back at you! Always love December, though my new district doubts that we will get snow on the 14th...even though it almost always snows on me on my birthday! #sblchat
A1 Students journal every day on their Chromebooks, which is where I get most of my formative evidence. The rest of my formatives are usually tech free and face-to-face. :) #sblchat
A1. Use a lot of google forms for mastery checks and/or pretesting. Socratic has gotten a lot use from me as well. I use embedded questions in my flipped videos using @playposit#sblchat#techtools
I agree with Google Classroom especially; as an ELA T, I can drop into working documents to get a gauge on Ss writing and intervene as necessary. It’s a perfect set-up for formative assessment #sblchat
Yeah, some of the tools definitely lend themselves to things like vocabulary building - but they do build the basics so students can apply their knowledge as they move forward. #sblchat
A1. Use a lot of google forms for mastery checks and/or pretesting. Socratic has gotten a lot use from me as well. I use embedded questions in my flipped videos using @playposit#sblchat#techtools
A1 Over the last year+ I have been pushing a coding mindset and have added a variety of “games” to help students find the words to describe their own learning journeys. It became T(ec)hursday at https://t.co/rNKxP0Rzge#sblchat
Sigh. Once upon a time I had 1:1 iBooks and I loved “popping into” their screens to see what they were doing and if I could help....even if/when I was in another city.... it is awesome to collaborate that way! #sblchat
I developed a tool for students to track their own learning on each individual learning target, set and follow goals, and reflect. #sblchathttps://t.co/KgfgjLWgH8
I was using @GrammarFlip, but my District wouldn’t pay for the subscription; now we were directed to use @membean for vocabulary, so I’m hesitant on delving into too many more online services, but if NRI is fre, maybe I can play around with it. Thanks! #sblchat
In reply to
@HarkinsEDU, @noredink, @GrammarFlip, @membean
A2-Our (3 times a week) Google Form Exit Tickets
1) provide immediate feedback to our Learners,
2) offer Learners an immediate REDO opportunity, and
3) record in a Google Sheet who answered what to fine tune the next day's instruction. #sblchat#TechTools
A2-Our @Desmos Card Sorts offer our Leaners immediate feedback when the class progress is projected on the board for all to see. Our Learners often ignite with "got it", "knew that was right", and ""What? Those don't match?"
#sblchat#TechTools
A2 Tech gives students a toolbox, so there are a wide variety of things to learn from. Each student can find something that works well for them. #sblchat
A2. When used as pretest, I write a prescription for Ss to follow on the learning path. When used as mastery, it is used to determine any relearning. #sblchat#techtools
A2 tech changes everything - it started for me when my “messy writing” was replaced by a app easily readable font. Then voice to text, text to voice (audio books are still reading!) calculations for speed, gamification.... it all helped make the learning more personal #sblchat
A2 tech changes everything - it started for me when my “messy writing” was replaced by a app easily readable font. Then voice to text, text to voice (audio books are still reading!) calculations for speed, gamification.... it all helped make the learning more personal #sblchat
A2: tech allows teachers to present numerous choices to students that were not possible before. Example: my students have menus to choose their own assessment formats. #sblchat
A2: tech allows teachers to present numerous choices to students that were not possible before. Example: my students have menus to choose their own assessment formats. #sblchat
A2: The efficiency. Feedback can flow faster in both directions. Support can be provided when needed (Conditional Responses within Google Forms for example) or enrichment can be provided when Ss demonstrate mastery #sblchat
We also use @OnCourseK12 for creating our SBG report card and tracking mastery in our SB gradebook. #sblchat#TechTools. Thank you to @SLopezPM for all of her help with implementation assistance.
A2 #techtools allow learners to work at their own pace, provide immediate feedback to Ss & Ts, maintain records of progress/growth, offer alternative options with mult paths for learning #sblchat
A2: tech allows teachers to present numerous choices to students that were not possible before. Example: my students have menus to choose their own assessment formats. #sblchat
A2: Typically, feedback is pretty quick digitally. This, along with our rubrics, allow Ss to essentially score themselves. They also know what they need to work on next! #sblchat
Tech has made it possible for nobody’s learning and doing “having” to look like anybody else’s - common tasks may have a role for practice....but are they still “all-must-dos”? #sblchat
Day 69: while exploring inverses and restricting domains with @CPMmath, I spied a S having some @Desmos fun. Why just restrict the domain to a number when we can restrict to infinite numbers! #ITeachMath#teach180
Oh, for sure. Especially with my 6th graders. They started out the year barely knowing how to operate their CBs! They are getting the hang of it, though. Lots of modeling and walk throughs. Also, we do 1-on-1 conferences after each assessment #sblchat
A3-Since many Learners are accustomed to paper and pencil in Math, the Tech Tools might initially get in the way of their success. There is often a learning curve. #sblchat#TechTools
A3: It doesn't suit everyone. Some kids still need something they can touch and manipulate to aid in their learning. That's why giving Ss choices is so important. #sblchat
A3 I think sometimes it is easy for kids to hide behind tech. This is why I love the face-to-face convos so much. Hard for Ss to wiggle out of showing what they know. The trick is to balance the tech and non-tech. #sblchat
A3-Our HS Math Departmnet has discusssed how the implmentation of more #TechTools may help our Learners demonstrate greater proficiency on State Assessments soon to use tech in testing. #sblchat
A3 P1: For math, student thinking isn't always clear (which I sometimes struggle with). That's when the use of hinge questions caught my eye. I can quickly see (during a bellringer, for example) where a S might be struggling. #sblchat
A3 Educators need to maintain the human connection in the assessment process. While #techtools may enhance the feedback loop, the learning experience relies on personal conversations in the classroom #sblchat
A3: Have read that retrieval practice studies has mixed reviews on the speed of feedback. Productive struggle leads to better, long-term learning, but most digital tools provide rapid responses. Like anything, variety is key! #sblchat
A3 Educators need to maintain the human connection in the assessment process. While #techtools may enhance the feedback loop, the learning experience relies on personal conversations in the classroom #sblchat
Now I get it. We offer #TechTools and gather proficiency levels for our Learners. That is only one piece of evidence. We also gather paper versions on the next FA maybe. Helpful? #sblchat
Timely feedback doesn't necessarily mean immediate - I agree that you need to assess the situation and see what is most appropriate. Does the student need feedback right away or would it be more beneficial to wait and see if they figure it out? #sblchat
A3: If we put too much trust into software to truly assess standards without examining the content, we may find the same problems we have had with textbooks in the past. #sblchat#TechTools
A4 Google docs, Kaizena, Explain Everything, Flipgrid, & Screencastify- great options. LMS platforms also provide opportunities for digital feedback. #sblchat
Agreed. Because there's other research that warns if students are not corrected in a timely manner, the errors can move further into long-term. Timely is flexible and varying that time seems ideal. #sblchat
A4 Most of my feedback is face-to-face, but I loved using @KaizenaHQ to record my voice. Also editing mode (or comments) work well for docs too. #sblchat
A4 My favorite digital feedback resource is Kaizena - audio feedback saves time and is powerful for students! They hear your words as well as your tone and inflection. It also has more staying power than a conversation. #sblchat
Also, feedback can be impactful from people other than the teacher. My Ss provide timely feedback to each other more often than I ever could. Plus, they are better at giving it too. :) #sblchat
A4: @Flipgrid My students used it today to record themselves presenting practice lessons. Self-assessing, feedback, and growth happens quickly! #sblchat
A4 I think just plain ole emails can be very beneficial. A short message about how they are doing and advice going forward may be as powerful as any other tech tool we have. #sblchat
A4: I have only found conferences to work at this point. I'm not sure if it's bc our Ss enter their scores on their ebinders in Google Sheets or what, but they need some help/explanation with it all! Definitely looking for new ideas! #sblchat
We talk so much about positive emails to parents, I think positive emails to students can be feedback they really need (and maybe don't get enough of!) And its teaching them to use a life skill many don't use properly yet #sblchat
A4. In my graduate class, I have moved away from electronically marking papers to writing students emails in which I reflect upon their thinking and progress. So much more of a personal way to give feedback via a letter. #sblchat
We talk so much about positive emails to parents, I think positive emails to students can be feedback they really need (and maybe don't get enough of!) And its teaching them to use a life skill many don't use properly yet #sblchat
A4 By having Ss respond to teacher comments in Gdocs/slides, we create a documented story of our learners' process. Ss highlight revisions to verbalize their process for showing growth. #Metacognition is more important than final product #sblchat
I’m seeing what appear to be a lot of mentions of scores on formative assessments or am I misinterpreting? FA should be “no score, comment only. #sblchat#techtools
A5 Using tech to facilitate SA is at the professional discretion of the teacher. It can be used successfully with a variety of tools - especially with more discrete standards. #sblchat
A5-We have not YET used #TechTools to administer Summative Assessments (SAs), though our PLC has been discusssing them as an option for Multiple-Choice, Short Answer, and Graphing. Stay tuned. #sblchat
We track proficiency levels on FAs with 4-Blue, 3-Green, 2-Yellow, and 1-Red, but they do not hit the gradebook until proficiency or the marking period closes. #sblchat#TechTools
A3 I think sometimes it is easy for kids to hide behind tech. This is why I love the face-to-face convos so much. Hard for Ss to wiggle out of showing what they know. The trick is to balance the tech and non-tech. #sblchat
A5 In my project-based room, students have the option to demonstrate their knowledge digitally. Two current favorites are AR/VR with @cospaces_edu and movies with @mysimpleshow. #sblchat
Descriptive feedback loops always better than %s LGs etc! #sblchat (loved sharing the “rubric next to the assignment” in a sample efolio at @bcerac#it4k12 last week! Opened some eyes!!)
I’m seeing what appear to be a lot of mentions of scores on formative assessments or am I misinterpreting? FA should be “no score, comment only. #sblchat#techtools
A4: I think it's a @alicekeeler or @jmattmiller hack, but save your favorite Bitmojis into Google Keep & put those on student assignments. Digital spin on the old ⭐️gold star⭐️ (much easier now in Google Docs) #sblchat
A5- Its not about how Ts utilize technology, but Ss to show their learning. My favorite project has students prove to me they learned the target in any way they want. Too many resort to paper/pencil, my favorites are the multi-media ones (just not the PPTs, zzzzzz!) #sblchat
That’s a great point. The appropriateness of any assessment format is dependent upon the nature of the standard being assessed. Nothing is inherently good or bad. #sblchat
I think a formative assessment can include a score (pretest, practice assessment, etc) /as long as/ it comes with specific comments about strengths/weaknesses #sblchat#techtools
A5 In my project-based room, students have the option to demonstrate their knowledge digitally. Two current favorites are AR/VR with @cospaces_edu and movies with @mysimpleshow. #sblchat
A5 In my project-based room, students have the option to demonstrate their knowledge digitally. Two current favorites are AR/VR with @cospaces_edu and movies with @mysimpleshow. #sblchat
A5: Honestly, I use a lot of the same resources that I've previously listed. The only difference is the students know our mid-check and summative scores have to go in SISK12. #sblchat
Amazing data analysis, especially helpful for Ts assessing their assessments but also helpful in pinpointing group errors. I think a year subscription is only $7? I’d be happy to chat about it! #sblchat
Sure, if it's on a piece of paper without followup. Formative checks have to include dialog between the teachers and students. The context also matters. #sblchat#techtools
Amazing data analysis, especially helpful for Ts assessing their assessments but also helpful in pinpointing group errors. I think a year subscription is only $7? I’d be happy to chat about it! #sblchat
This is good information to know going forward. Some of us are required to enter a minimum number of grades for each progress report period. It is usually impossible to have only summative scores by 3 weeks into the marking period. #sblchat
Ex: I score standards/skills on a four-point descriptive rubric. 3=mastered for my students. On most work, I ask them to self assess on that scale based on self reflection and my own observation. The number is irrelevant, but makes the discussion easier. #sblchat
A6 This area has been a struggle for the teachers I work with - traditional management systems that are many times in place have not worked well with SBG. #sblchat
A6-We track the progress of Formative Assessments (FAs) in a Google Sheet and post interims grades in Aspen for Learners and the Parents to access during the marking period. #sblchat#TechTools
A6-Google Sheets is the repository for our proficiency levels until the close of the marking period when the grades are posted to Aspen. #sblchat#TechTools
I mean, the big one we use is Edulastic. They are pretty used to it and don't seem anxious at all. We also pay for a subscription that has the option to play the question text-to-speech, which really helps some of my Ss #sblchat
A6 I stick with a classic here, good ole Google Sheets! Students also self-assess and highlight where they are on a rubric. We then discuss their self-eval when we conference. #sblchat
A6: I already shared it, but this is such a good tool, a catch-all for data, and easier to use and understand than Eduphoria, etc. #sblchathttps://t.co/KgfgjLWgH8
More or less because it was a big mental shift for high schoolers. 4=Exceeds expectations, 3=meets expectations, 2=approaches expectations, 1=does not meet expectations. I /drilled/ the descriptors.
Numbers also allowed for a quick 1-4 hand raise at the end of class. #SBLchat
Our #sblchat Crew welcomes you back NEXT Wednesday for more PD on how to stimulate greater learning and retention in our Standards-Based Learning environments. @garnet_hillman@KatieBudrow
It's culture. Our school system has worked against descriptive, formative growth in favor of quantification. It's easier to slap a number on the top of the page than to leave detailed feedback on progress. #sblchat
Strong words coming. Anyone who requires a teacher to have minimum # of scores in 3 weeks is assessment illiterate. Agree it is impossible to have 3 summative scores in 3 weeks. If a report card has grades it is an achievement report, not a progress report. . . . #SBLChat
This is good information to know going forward. Some of us are required to enter a minimum number of grades for each progress report period. It is usually impossible to have only summative scores by 3 weeks into the marking period. #sblchat
Descriptive feedback is more important & mere presence of score can inhibit effect of feedback. But many folks find themselves in communites still adapting & requiring more frequent marks. I think they can serve a purpose, especially if Ss are involved in scoring, no? #sblchat
A6: I use my trusty Michaels-brand of "erin condren" planner to record them in pencil. That's easier for me to record data initially. Then we use a data tracking system that the whole school has in place on Google Sheets #sblchat
A5 Digital portfolios with reflections & project-based options are my favorite means of summative assessment. Student-created assessment can provide quality evidence of learning #sblchat
This is good information to know going forward. Some of us are required to enter a minimum number of grades for each progress report period. It is usually impossible to have only summative scores by 3 weeks into the marking period. #sblchat
Conversations with Parents reveal they are watching the parent portal. I'm not sure, however, what stats there are regarding which Parents access and when. #sblchat#TechTools
A6 as I evolve further and further away from the old “gradebook” I have our “Big Questions” (that guide our provincial curriculum) along with samples of how students have looked and addressed it - sharing descriptive feedback as appropriate! using @Scholantis this year #sblchat
It's culture. Our school system has worked against descriptive, formative growth in favor of quantification. It's easier to slap a number on the top of the page than to leave detailed feedback on progress. #sblchat
Yup. Numbers (exceeding/meeting/needs improvement) do mean more to me as a parent than alphabetical grades, but neither give me perspective or what matters most for my child. #SBLchat
Thanks so much everyone for a great chat. We will reconvene next Wednesday for more conversation, sharing, and learning. Hope you can all make it and bring a friend! #sblchat
