Overcoming+Barriers+to+School+Reform

Linnea's Presentation: Overcoming Barriers to School Reform:

Anne Davies Web Page [|Assessment for Learning]

** Thank you so much for your ideas and questions! ** ** Please continue the dialogue. **  •   Does this information matter if it went on the standardized test? How does learning help them with SATs? –  This is the question that I need to be able to address. The general public really see the SATs as the ultimate measure of learning. •  What does it mean, "simply put into place"? Without much lead up/background prep? (Seems like that would help...) – –  Yes it means without much lead up or fanfare. I thought that preparation would lay the groundwork and lead to more success in reform, but Tyack and Cuban claim in __Tinkering Toward Utopia__ that keeping reform under the radar results in more widespread success. It may be due to the formation of lobbies for or against the reform. •  Where did the three characteristics of successful form come from. –  These come from the book __ Tinkering Toward Utopia__, by Larry Cuban and David Tyack •  How well are students attuned to the reason that you are doing things? –  This is a really good question. I cover the skills to be gained in the course syllabus; I don't think anybody really ever refers back to it. Somehow I have to find a way to keep the reasons in front of them. •  Parents concerned-have they voiced their concerns? How do you know they are opposed? –  They tell me that this isn't the way that they learned science. They also will ask me why I don't do things the same as the other bio teacher. •  Slugs - MLRs? Skills? Can you do both traditional and "project"? –  There is always room for the lower stakes, traditional activity. •  Why have them show their knowledge? –  I don’t have an answer to this question and I really need to develop one. •  What about compulsory education laws as a successful reform? –  I actually thought a lot about including them. It just came down to a decision about visual impact and the number of items on the PowerPoint slide. •  Do we pay enough attention? –  Can you develop this question little further? I think what you're asking is important, I just don't understand quite what it is that you're asking. Pay attention to what? Ideas from cohort members for new ways to document learning •  The child understands the family dynamics and can be the strongest advocate for you. •  Have kids generate and act as an advocate for your unit to their parents in the home. –  Students are your liaison between school and parents. •  Have a parent do the experiment •  Relate to 21st-century skills •  Explain to parents the skills that the students are learning: –  problem solving, build patience, scientific process, technology skills, communication skills, critical thinkers. •  This makes kids successful in life because: –  first-hand experience in problem solving; teamwork; in-depth - relates more to science; creating thinkers... you don't know what they will need to know-so prepare them for anything •  Key points-build on and share this with parents –  sharing thinking with others; working through complex situations; working with ill-defined outcomes ** More ideas from cohort members for new ways to document learning ** •  ** Products include: ** –  Demonstrations –  storyboards –  news broadcast –  Radio /TD - Bill Nye –  puppetshow - from slugs perspective. –  podcast –  Oral report-podcast? –  Graphic novel-maybe, drawings –  document through photos –  class wiki including a thread/conversation about results. –  music video –  Video-I movie –  brochure –  podcast –  photo essay –  wiki- create own –  Portfolio exhibits –  narrative story –  daily log: Journal –  poem –  writing a news article geared toward general public –  story from the slug's perspective
 * Questions from Presentation **