Thread by @MrMeliLCI

1/ I haven’t tweeted much this past quadmester, because it’s been crazy busy, but now that the sprint at the end of the marathon is complete, after reading my students end of course survey responses, I have some reflections…

2/ First of all, I used #LevelledTestQuestions throughout the quadmester, and as anticipated, my Ss really appreciated them. Ss could select the hardest question they could answer, or if they wanted, they could answer multiple questions.

3/ I could choose the one which provided the most evidence of their level of understanding.

Here is their feedback on this type of testing from my end of course survey:

4/ This has proven to be more effective at measuring each student’s level of understanding, despite different ability levels. It’s like having tests custom made for each student. #HumaneMathAssessment

Here are some examples of levelled test questions from my tests this quad:

5/ I felt somehow liberated from the need to POLICE Ss during assessments. They had access to their notes and online resources during all forms of evaluation and so what? I did some things to encourage students to give me their own work rather than simply copy the work of others

6/ (like sampling each test question from a test bank of similar but slightly different questions) but in general, I feel like teachers need to spend less energy on policing students and more energy teaching students.

7/ With fewer systemic barriers, tests could take as long as students needed them to (without having to rush off to next period). I felt as if most students were better able to show me what they knew.

8/ Some Ss cheated. I caught them, told them why it was wrong, and they fessed up and learned from the process. I didn’t put all of my energy into preventing it because it’s a losing game. In the long run, I know who learned a lot, who didn't and the grades were pretty accurate.

9/ Ss had the chance to use what they learned in multiple units to create a Social Justice themed graphing assignment. Have a look at their work here: bit.ly/MPM2DDesigns20…

10/ I am so proud of their work! Ss used linear and quadratic equations and Desmos to create their designs. Some also chose to use circles.
Shout out to @angjeli4math for sharing this and other Projects with @tdsb teachers. #PBL #CRRP #Desmos #TDSBHybrid

11/ Here's what students had to say about this project:

12/ I went deeper in my implementation of #ThinkingClassroom practices. I’ve always used a constructivist approach to teaching math but with the help of @PeterLiljedahl ‘s new book, I was able to dive a little deeper.

13/ In this class I began by setting the tone for the course with non-curricular tasks and focusing on the process of collaboration and communication. I’m glad I did, but there were challenges here. Here are some honest student reflections on this:

14/ As I eavesdropped into each breakout room, I heard the sound of rich discussion and learning in some groups, while in others there was silence or sometimes one student, like Sisyphus rolling his boulder uphill, trying to get a discussion going with a group that wouldn’t talk.

15/ Teachers too often found this to be a frustrating reality of remote learning. I feel like I have the most learning to do in this area. Perhaps some of it was related to tech limitations (some Ss didn’t have a mic) but I want to continue to work on this.

16/ Overall, I'm humbled to be learning so much in this, my 25th year of teaching. I feel like the state of art in education continues to get better. We're better able to tackle the challenges of education now than at any other point in my career.

17/ And next year I'll get to continue to work with TDSB teachers in my role as Hybrid Teacher-Coach.
#TDSBHybrid
Have a restful summer break everyone. See you in September!