Assessing STREAM

Assessing
STREAM Projects

Tammie Robie

Formative vs Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment is where we look for evidence toward a learning goal. These types of assessments are like 'quick checks' and are meant to give us a real-time indication of where students are in the learning process.

Formative Assessments should be used to give students feedback, not for grading!

Formative assessments should be frequent and we should use information gathered from these assessments to adjust our instruction while it is still happening.

Summative Assessment is an assessment of learning. With summatives, students' work is measured against preexisting standards to see if they have demonstrated an understanding of the objectives.

With Summative Assessments, we should be looking for students to demonstrate what they have learned during the learning process. Ideally, we evaluate these types of assessments based on their growth toward the learning targets.

Documenting Learning

"When deep learning experiences are visible and involve students directly in the documentation process, it enables them to identify moments worth remembering." - Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano and Janet A. Hale

Documenting Learning: Students create evidence of their learning during the learning process.

Try This:
Have students keep a project journal to take notes and make drawings that demonstrate the learning process

Technology-based Options:

Use Padlet to post notes (including image-based and video) allowing students to quickly reflect on the learning process by answering a prompt or guiding question

Use PicCollage to create a collage of photos demonstrate the learning process

Evidence Collection Tools

"Evidence Collection tools provide a range of opportunities for both teachers and students to act as data collectors, to collect both qualitative and quantitative data, and to use once or over the course of a project." - From "Beyond Rubrics" a collaboration between the MIT Playful Journey Lab and Maker Ed

Evidence Collection tools are tools used to collect evidence of the making process.

Try this:
Set up a "Stuck Station*" in the classroom
Stuck Station is an opportunity for students to step away from their projects and groups when they are frustrated, stumped, or stuck with a technical problem or collaboration problem.
Students are given an opportunity to explore strategies to get unstuck and talk through the problem they are having on video. This encourages students to troubleshoot, take risks/tinker, or work through struggles with peers

*From "Beyond Rubrics"

Reflecting on Learning

Try This:

Include a Reflection Section in students' project journal. As you wrap up a project, encourage students to informally gather information on how they met their learning target.

Begin the thought process by providing students with a guiding question.

Reflection is an important part of the learning process that helps students make meaning of concepts and ideas.

Be sure to read and comment on students' reflections so they know their ideas were heard!

Technology-based Options:

Use Flipgrid to prompt students to self-reflect with the "I used to know, now I think" routine, allowing them to watch and learn from each other.

Use Screencastify to display a picture of a project on their screen and record themselves talking through the learning process.

Embrace Technology

Consider using technology to allow students to create artifacts of learning, reflect on their learning, and share their learning with an audience outside the classroom.

Screencasting

Students can record narrated explanations of their learning process while looking at artifacts (documentations of their learning) on the screen. These recordings can be viewed as published videos and shared with an audience. My favorite is Screencastify

Publish a Book

Book Creator is a website and app that allows students to create books (like the one you are looking at right now!) Students can combine photos, text, and voice to showcase their work, then publish the book with an audience.

Podcasts

Inforgraphics

Students can record their voices as they explain and reflect on their learning, then edit, add music or sound effects, and share with an audience. Try Soundtrap!

Canva is an online graphic design tool that students can use to create an infographic. Canva is very simple to use and comes with built in icons and fonts. Students can download their infographic and print it or post it to a site like Padlet.