Week 4 Reflection

This week the videos and readings were about project-based learning and how to accurately assess all students.  Both the videos and the readings were very informative.

The importance of assessing students’ knowledge accurately was the focus of chapter 7 in the Rose and Meyer text.  “When we consider individual differences in recognition, strategic, and affective networks, we realize that a common test format and administration method will always some students and hurt others, for a variety of complex reasons” (Rose & Meyer, 2002).  This quote stresses how essential it is to use a variety of methods to assess student knowledge.  If we use a variety of ways to teach students, then it only makes sense that we should do the same with assessments.  Rose and Meyer also state, “we can gain a richer understanding of what people know by crossing media lines and assessing content with media not usually associated with assessment” (2002).  Using technology in the classroom allows the teacher to meet the learning needs of all students as well as test their knowledge more appropriately. 

This week the Pitler text described cooperative learning as a way to facilitate group collaboration.  I have always enjoyed using groups in my classroom, but I know many teachers do not see the benefit.  How are students going to learn how to work and compete in the workplace if we don’t use cooperative learning?  “To prepare for the fast-paced, virtual workplace that they will inherit, students need to be able to learn and produce cooperatively-both in person and online” (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2012, p. 74).  My goal is to use all this information and incorporate it into my teaching and share what I have learned with my teaching partners. 

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., & Kuhn, M. (2012), Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 73-87. 

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Chapter 7. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/