Spring Leadership Conference 2018

Change is often focussed on the new thing – the new red carpet idea that promises to navigate education into its next chapter. But what about the loss? Something is always lost through change. Effective leaders appreciate what currently works in order to not frame change as something to replace those practices – to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Asking questions that pay respect to the work teachers have done for decades while focusing new learning and initiatives is key to leading like a PIRATE. This session looks at assessment as a driver of innovation and a strong place to support teachers who want to provide authentic, personalized experiences for their students without losing the the traditional aspects of education that most stakeholders value.

This session, although it has structure, is designed to field questions and concerns to ensure participants have an opportunity to participate in the moment. Additionally, the focus on unschooling the common assessment (including standardized tests) is handled as to not discredit traditional-style assessments and positions them as one approach to gather evidence of learning, not the only option.

Examples of authentic assessments, project-based learning, and ways to encourage educators to take risks serve as the meat of the presentation, which includes specific samples of work from different grade levels. Furthermore, this session discusses the potential for assessments that provide space for students to explore their interests without going off book from the curriculum standards.

The underlying argument of this session takes into consideration the need for compassion as educators struggle to nudge education toward something more relevant in relation to an ever-changing world. The takeaway: Questioning and analyzing evidence of student learning in relation to standards and rubrics, not standardized tests, are practices that provide the soapbox for professional collaboration and improvement.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Elementary School Educators or Leaders, Middle School Educators or Leaders, High School Educators or Leaders