What kind of people do we hope our students will become because of their schooling? I think the answer to this question, is one that is difficult because it is dynamic - the answer is constantly changing. We want our students to be the kind of people our world needs, and the kind of people our world needs changes as our world changes. However, I think there are some attributes that remain static. Regardless of where the world is, there are always going to be certain personal attributes that will serve not only the individual, but society as a whole. Personally, I want my students to be kind, empathetic, passionate, and critical-thinking individuals.
- Kind: Kind to themselves, and to others. Self care first, so that you are able to be the best version of yourself always.
- Empathetic: Being able to put themselves in another shoes. Recognizing where someone is coming from. Recognizing that their path may have been harder.
- Passionate: Care. Caring about what we are doing. Caring about what we are learning. If we don't care, if we are not passionate, we are not putting our best food forward, and we are not going to care about the result.
- Critical Thinking: Problem solving. No problem is too big, or too small, when you have people and all the tools and resources you need around you to solve it.
I think if we encourage all these traits, our society will be left in good hands.
So the question becomes, how might marks, grading, assessment and evaluation, testing, etc. have an effect on the overall society? How does assessment contribute to these attributes?
In reality, we are not going to obliterate grading, marks, and percentages overnight. They are so engrained into everything we do, not just in British Columbia, but globally. Instead of sulking in the fact that we have to grade and give percentages, what can we do as educators to encourage these values and attributes within the existing system and framework?
1) Community Assessment Guidelines: I think it's funny that we always talk about creating class guidelines and expectations alongside our students so that they take responsibility and ownership in abiding by the "class rules". I think it would be really beneficial to talk about assessment in a similar with our classes. At the beginning of the semester brainstorming ways of assessment: how do you want to be assessed? What is fair for me to assess you on as your teacher? How do you want to receive your grades? Get feedback from students and make the assessment guidelines collaborative! This is a great critical-thinking exercise that can be used to allow students to think outside the box. They are also getting ownership of how they are being assessed, which I am sure is something most students will be quite passionate about.
2) Peer & Self-Assessment: I love peer and self assessment as I feel that they are great tools for students to understand and improve their own work. Through self-assessment, students often end up holding themselves to higher standards while completing assignments. In peer assessment, they get an insight into how others have completed the work, so that for future assignments they see alternative ways to complete things! In both peer and self assessment, students must practice being kind (to themselves, and each other), and empathetic.
Overall, we know that grades have the risk of being detrimental to student. Not only in the present, but in the future as well. I think it is our responsibility as educators to minimize that detriment as much as possible, given that we are not going to radically change the system of grading in the short-run. In turn, I think it becomes our responsibility as teachers to come up with tangible ways to assess our students in a way that encourages the values and attributes we look for in a flourishing member of society.
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