Week Four Discussion

In the reading this week, there were several ideas that resonated with several experiences

that I have throughout my educational career. The first idea that stood out to me was in the

Abbott, 2012, reading in which teachers that provide different types and approaches to

assessments can meet the learning needs of more students. I agree with this and my connection

to this is having witnessed this first-hand during this school year. I have recently designed

layered units and diversified assessments for each secondary student. The results of this have

been astonishing, as students are drawn to these layered projects that incorporate Universal

Design for Learning (UDL) and more student choice in learning. Another idea that I gleamed

from the reading this week from Abbott, 2012, was with authentic assessments replacing

outdated formative and summative assessment modes. The connection that I am able to make

with this is that I believe authentic assessment is a vital element in assessing the students, as I

have began the process of implementing project-based learning in several of the courses in my

school. This has allowed the students to see the relevance and be able to apply the concepts and

skills that they acquired completing the project-based learning assignments.

The third idea that I took from the reading was from Abbott, 2012, in which educators

that change their assessment methods are motivated to promote the best learning environment

and study habits for their students. I can make this connection, as I have decided to take up

using UDL and project-based learning in my history classes, which has allowed me to see a big

difference in the motivation and engagement of the students. The students are on-task and are

excited about working on history, and the fact that they can choose what they work on is a bonus

for these students. Even though there were other great ideas and concepts contained within the

reading this week, these three were the concepts that allowed me to reflect and connect with my
current experiences in the classroom. The only question that I have regarding the reading and

information is why has it taken so long for many educators to switch from older formative

assessments to authentic assessment, despite the research available to support the usage of this

method?

Reference

Abbott, L. (2012). Tired of teaching to the test? Alternative approaches to assessing student

learning. Rangelands, 34(3), p. 34-38.