We’ve said it for more than a year … Students can’t officially use AI chatbots because they’re not old enough per the terms of use … but student-facing chatbots are coming. Now they’re finally here. Holly and Matt have used them — and have worked with students in the classroom using AI chatbots. In this episode, we share the things we like about them — and things to be aware of.
Student-Centered Assessments and Demonstrations of Learning
Digital Classrooms means rethinking many commonplace teaching strategies in classrooms. It means finding new ways to gather rich information about student learning and growth, and demonstrations of learning become as important as the results of assessments.
For students who are learning in a digital world, multiple-choice testing falls short as a true and reliable source of information about learning. Simply choosing from four provided answers tells us little about their learning journey. Besides, students do not have access to number two pencils and scantrons!
Now more than ever, digital learning must empower students to show not only WHAT they learned through the “transfer of knowledge”, but HOW they learned–the process of making meaning of the content. Even the way we use most of the Google and Microsoft Forms has to evolve and move toward finding ways to allow students to demonstrate their learning.
To ensure students create meaningful demonstrations of learning, the methods they use must be multi-faceted and layered. Thankfully, technology allows students to demonstrate their learning in rich and authentic ways. It provides us with the opportunity to:
From Graphic above:
Hear from all our students in unique ways
Uncover their true thinking and understanding
Visualize the steps they took and applications they made
Understand the metacognition behind the experience.
Technology makes it possible to take something that was once one-dimensional like a poster and bring learning to life by layering it with student voice, visible thinking, detailed explanation, and even virtual and augmented reality. The result is that teachers have a much clearer picture of student learning, and students are more engaged and invested. Learning becomes much more meaningful and interesting, even more now that students have devices.
How to Get Started with Demonstrations of Learning:
With demonstrations of learning, students start with a question that is built around a learning target. Then students construct knowledge, keep record of the journey, and show their learning with digital products like Flipgrid, Seesaw, Adobe Spark and Book Creator, or another online learning tool.
How Do Educators Do Allow Students to Show What They Know?
Allow students the choice to respond to the question in a way that fits their learning style. Make sure they are aware of the learning target they are trying to reach. If possible, show them exemplars from other students or examples you have curated from other sources.
If it is something that fits their learning style, let them use one of the tools discussed during this LIVE video.
What Can Educators Do When Familiar With This Technique?
Allow students the opportunity to keep their demonstrations of learning in a digital portfolio, where they can start to curate their learning journey and be able to see growth over time.
This creates a student-centered shift, that makes students partners with the teacher in their own learning decisions.
The current crisis has suddenly and drastically changed schools and learning. But in the end, it will give students the freedom to find out how they learn best, and teachers will have the freedom to find new ways to assess students. The key is making thinking visible with demonstrations of learning.