Reflection #2

Part 1

In the classroom today, we know not all students fit the same cookie cutter shaped curriculum as we used to believe previously. Utilizing only multiple choice and chapter test assessment does not allow for students to achieve the optimum cognitive level that an open ended or an assessment that allows for divergent thinking would. The use of an assessment type, like multiple choice, limits student’s abilities to think out of the box and explore further ideas. Student assessment should include multiple types of problem solving and exploratory ideals. Types of assessment that would further student learning and growth of cognitive development should be used. Students have different learning styles and perform better when multiple assessment strategies are utilized. Assessment strategies like projects, essays, open-ended questions, and group work will help expand and broaden the results previously found in traditional strategies. The use of multiple strategies allows for educators to be less one-dimensional and allow students to be more creative and expressive within their answers.

Part 2

            Formative assessments I currently use in the classroom are class discussion, work sheets, and in class participation. During a lesson lecture or videos, I will utilize classroom discussion stopping from time to time during instruction and asking questions for the class to discuss. Some days I will use worksheets and handouts as additional instruction to compliment lecture. When I combine the two, I’ll observe classroom participation as an assessment. Summative assessments I currently use in the classroom are projects, presentations, and unit tests. When completing a unit or group of study, I’ll come up with a project and/or presentation for the class to do. Usually the project will allow for the individual or group to be creative and think outside the box. If I don’t use a project to finish a unit, I will use a unit test as a summative assessment. The test will usually include multiple question types such as multiple choice, fill in the blank, true and false, open ended, and essay questions. I believe using a balance of both formative and summative assessment types is important. When using formative types, the educator is able to keep track of student progress day to day allowing for a change of instruction or method if needed. Summative assessments allow for an educator to see if the student absorbed and actually learned the material presented in a unit as a whole. When utilizing both types together a proper student assessment is achieved. I plan on utilizing classroom discussion, group work, and projects as assessments within my future classroom. I plan on implementing discussion similar to how I do it now while student teaching during lecture and videos. Simply by just stopping and discussing certain things, to make sure students are picking up on the instruction. Group work will be utilized during class projects and especially in the shop. Breaking students into groups to work on metal or wood projects will help the projects get finished faster and allow for more creativity when designing and putting the projects together. Project work will be utilized as a summative assessment within my classroom. I believe a strong agriculture education program thrives on project work and hands on activities. Students in my classroom will learn by doing, not just through lecture and video instruction.