This cartoon card caught my eye for several different reasons:
1. My experiences are quite varied and I subscribe to the philosophy that, "there are No unimportant jobs," which means that students need authentic and relevant educational experiences in order to be prepared to enter the post "high school" phase of their young lives.
2. I don't like being judged on a single task, so why would we judge all students, with varied academic experiences, on a single test. I like the idea of using assessments tools to provide me with data on where the learner needs more work, reinforcement, and remediation, but Not as the sole measure of a student's DOK.
3. The # lets you know you're communicating with digital media on a global scale. The Twitter platform provides a great venue to start a conversation about issues that need public awareness and also knowing that the possibility for a widely diverse discussion to erupt can be the catalyst for change.
There is more to say about this picture and my philosophy on standardized testing, but I'll save that for future posts. I'm looking forward to working and learning from this new community of learners this semester.
3 comments:
Hi Rafe!
Like you, I'm native to Appalachia. I agree with your points about the need for authenticity in learning, and not judging on a single assessment. One thing I love about the Digital Media program at FSU is that it gives us so many tools to use to change things up from "the way it's always been done."
I've always wondered what it would be like to work with Options Pathway students. I look forward to learning with you this semester.
Fantastic title for your blog, by the way!
Rafe,
Nice to meet you! I'm a fellow HCS teacher, but it's a big district. I really liked your statement that a teacher is "just a more experienced learner guiding and helping other learners discover meaning and understanding." That is true in a number of ways. I'm also not big on the standardized tests, and don't even give tests in my classroom. When I started teaching many years ago I taught very differently. Technology, age, and children have definitely changed my perspective in a lot of ways. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts and hearing more of your perspective this semester.
I agree with this cartoon especially because I know I am not great at standardized testing. I am always second guessing myself and I have this weird compulsive thing where if there are too many of the same letter in a row it freaks me out and there has to be like an even spread of letters. I don't know, it just messes with me. When I don't feel restricted like during standardized tests I tend to do much better and even excel in the work. Pinning down students by one task is never a good way to do things.
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