Teaching the Digital Generation

Pic. From http://openeducation.net

Teaching the Digital Generation: 

No More Cookie Cutter High Schools 

By Frank S. Kelly, Ted McCain, Ian Jukes 

Guiding principles for creating a new vision of schooling 

1) Start by looking at kids and learning
This is a critical point. Traditionally, creating new schools has focused on teachers and
instruction instead of kids and learning. But if we want to create schools that tailor
instruction for maximum effect for digital learners, we must begin by looking at modern
kids and how they learn. There is a growing body of research concerning digital learning
styles and preferences as well as research on how the brains of today’s young people
function. This mounting body of work indicates that if we want to be effective in teaching
modern students, then we need to look at different approaches to instruction.

2) Learning must prepare students for a world of constant change 

Today’s students will graduate into a world unlike anything we have ever seen before. 

21st century life will be fundamentally different from the experiences most of us had 

growing up and exponentially different than life today. Astounding technological 

development is driving continual and ever increasing rates of change. In this environment 

we cannot look at the world of today, but must envision the world of tomorrow and the 

skills and knowledge students will need for success in that future world. Students must be 

provided with strategies for handling a world that is always on the move. 

detail:

http://www.boerne-isd.net/uploaded/administration/facilities/Principles_for_Schooling_(2).pdf

9 Ways to Assess without Standardized Tests

  

Lisa Neilsen - Bloger

Caine's Arcade
You don't assess innovation with bubbletests

 









9 Ways to Assess Students without Standardized Tests

1. Look at student’s school work -Students are doing work across the year. Let's assess that, rather than a bubbletest. For instance, we can look at a piece of writing and use a standardized rubric to measure that. We can listen to a recording of a student's reading and retelling and use a standardized measure to assess their readIng and comprehension level. The great thing is that teachers already do this. No need to fork over millions to a publisher and grading staff.
2. Games -More and more games are being created that allow us to determine a student’s level mastery by their ability to progress in a game. Simulation games/contests and games like Tabula Digita, Manga High are examples.  
3. Challenges -In real life we’re assessed by how well we do, not how well we fill in bubbles. Instead of bubble tests, support young people in in tackling real challenges to demonstrate their capabilities and get scouted for awesome apprenticeship/internship/career opportunities.  This is exactly what companies like Rad Matter (life is rad, make it matter) do.  
4. Badges and Points -Folks like Tom Vander Ark (Author, Getting Smart) predict badges will be big in education and I agree. A badge (think boy/girl scouts) is an award for demonstrated mastery of a skill that has become popular as a reward mechanism in games and social networks like foursquare.com. In education a badge could be awarded for successful completion of an activity. An example of this is Code Academy co-founded by Columbia U dropout (school got in the way of learning) Zach Sims. Code Academy is a site where you learn to program by actually coding and as you do you receive points and badges as you complete each exercise. I'm a newbie learning Java and html. I have 22 points and 2 badges.
5. Real World Work -Encourage students to get out of the classroom and into the world doing work in an area of interest. The iSchool is an example of a school that does this well with their Areas of focus Program. Staff supports students in figuring out what it is that interest them and them helps them go out into the world and do it via an internship, apprenticeship, job. Just like in the real world, their work is assessed by their supervisor.
6. Real World Projects -I talk to so many students who are doing amazing work...just not in school. They're making viral videos, writing for publications or publishing their own blogs, engaging in public speaking, etc. The problem is, in today's paradigm of school, when we do work worthy of the world, this just doesn't matter. Let's change that! When kids are doing amazing things in the world, let's give them credit for it.
7. Real World Accomplishments Why is it that in most cases, school will only provide credit for that which is done during their hours on their terms. Why can't students get credit for accomplishments achieved outside of school if they provide evidence. For example, complete a marathon, win a dance contest or volleyball tournament, get physical education credit. Compete in a pig competition, get science credit. Write a travel review, get social studies credit. Perform in a recital, get music credit. In these cases, the assessment doesn't come from the school, it comes from the real world, and that's a good thing.
8. Personal Success Plans -Assessment should be customized to the student, not standardized to the system. This is exactly what happens with a personalized success plan with measurable goals. Teachers work with students to help them identify their goals then develop a real plan to achieve them. This involves input from teachers, mentors, family, friends, and community. The teacher, students, family. mentors, etc. can see at any time the student’s progress at anytime and provide scaffolded support as necessary.
9. ePortfolios -ePortfolios provide a great way to capture, document, make meaning, and share with others what we learn. They are a wonderful assessment tool that tells much more about a child than a letter or number on a piece of paper.  Not only that, they form the basis of what can lead to academic and career success.  There are numerous ways to create free, student-owned ePortfolios. Knowit App is a new site that is helping students do this work, but as ePortfolio guru Helen Barrett explains, Google Sites and Wikispaces are also great resources.
   

This isn't that hard and it's better for everyone (students, parents, teachers, school leaders) except the mega-billion dollar testing industry. Now that we've saved millions of dollars and saved countless hours wasted on testing and prepping, how do you think we can better serve students? I have my ideas!

Ref:
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2012/04/8-ways-to-assess-without-standardized.html 6/12/2013

10 KIT Guru

http://www.slideshare.net/EdihSupardi/pedagogi-indonesia

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