Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! (Assessment, Feedback, Grading, and Learning)

In this episode, Tom and Nat play the game "Would You Rather," exploring five assessment dilemmas that teachers and schools often face:   Would You Rather: #1: Allow students to redo assessments right up to report card deadlines, or cut off revisions two weeks early to protect your feedback quality and mental health?  #2: Suppress a student’s grade when evidence is insufficient, or assign a best-estimate level using professional judgment to avoid blank spaces on reports?  #3: Use a single holistic score to reflect overall proficiency on a standard, or break it down into multiple component scores for clarity — even if it overwhelms families?  #4: Prioritize the accuracy of the final report card by using only summative tasks, or include some formative data to recognize effort and encourage student morale?  #5: Give more weight to recent evidence to honor growth, or consider the full body of work to avoid inflated grades from last-minute surges?    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: assessthat24@gmail.com

Tom and Nat delve into the intricate world of assessing Project-Based and Inquiry-Based Learning, emphasizing the need for meaningful evaluations that prioritize the learning process. They introduce the GRASPS framework for authentic assessments and challenge traditional grading practices. The conversation also highlights the balance between student engagement and real-world application, tackling the hurdles educators face in innovative teaching methods. With insights on crafting effective rubrics, the episode pushes for assessments that truly reflect student growth.

In this Tom Schimmer Podcast classic, Tom is joined by Gholdy Muhammad to discuss her book, "Cultivating Genius, an Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy."  Gholdy on X: @GholdyM Gholdy on Instagram: @gholdym   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS   MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI     NEW BOOK Rehumanizing Assessment through Story   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: assessthat24@gmail.com

Discover a practical three-year roadmap for implementing standards-based grading tailored to your educational context. Learn about the crucial difference between proficiency and frequency scales in assessments. Explore fascinating cultural contrasts from their travels, emphasizing collaboration and learning among educators. Delve into the urgency needed in restructuring grading practices while encouraging patience and inclusivity among staff. Get insights on balancing academic and behavioral assessments for a fairer evaluation system.

Discover the transformative power of self-assessment in the classroom! The hosts reveal why it's essential for student empowerment and share strategies to navigate early implementation challenges. Learn about innovative methods like using exemplars and tools such as chat GPT to enrich student understanding. Hear how portfolios and data notebooks can drive meaningful reflection and engagement. Get ready to cultivate a culture of growth, as you help students take ownership of their learning journey!

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss the "Grading Trap," which inadvertently occurs when traditional grading practices - things like zeros for missing work, late penalties, and mixing behavior with academic performance - end up working against learning instead of supporting it.  The "Grading Trap" can inadvertently sabotage great teaching. Tom and Natalie close the episode with ways that teachers can recognize the "red flags" of the "Grading Trap" and how they can get themselves out of it.     PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.  FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  Orlando, FL.  FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: assessthat24@gmail.com

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss three quick assessment wins. Each "win" falls within a specific aspect of assessment. Formative: Engineer conversations Summative: Reorganize the gradebook. Student Agency: Feedback through consent     PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.  FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  Orlando, FL.  FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: assessthat24@gmail.com    

Discover the secrets behind crafting effective rubrics that balance art and science. The discussion dives into different types of rubrics—analytic, holistic, and single-point—and their unique benefits. Find out why task neutrality matters, allowing criteria to apply broadly across assignments. Gain insights into providing feedback that enhances long-term learning, while also exploring the evolving role of rubrics in education. Hear humorous travel tales alongside inspiring educational discussions that promote global collaboration.

In this episode, Tom and Natalie ask, "Are Common Assessments Worth It?" Spoiler alert: they are, as long as certain fundamentals and conditions are adhered to. In particular, when common assessments are used formatively they can be a powerful process for enhanced learning for students and teachers!     UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Nov. 3-5: Aurora Institute Symposium New Orleans, LA     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: assessthat24@gmail.com    

In this episode, Tom and Natalie explore the topic of feedback. They discuss it as both simple and complex. It's simple because there is unanimous agreement in academia about the role feedback plays in increasing student learning. It's complex because there are many contributing factors that lead to feedback potentially being ineffective.   In the end, Tom & Nat leave you with six guidelines for effective feedback.   FEEDBACK LESSONS   Lesson 1 - What is feedback?  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Zj5UPoNEIJK3x_i6dxGC3bjMFmaYiQSo/copy   Lesson 2 - How can I ask for and give feedback? https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ISI4f0rarjXpitgc9Ab4hkNbrK127HJN/copy   UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Oct. 17-19: NESA Fall Leadership Conference (Tom) Dubai, U.A.E. Nov. 3-5: Aurora Institute Symposium New Orleans, LA     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: assessthat24@gmail.com