Dave+talks+to+his+class+about+authentic+learning+strategies

I tried a little of the authentic strategies we learned with Ed with our Cold War test. Out of 113 students, 74 elected to take the test (65%) and the others picked one of the options (35%!). With such short notice, I’m impressed I got this many to try out a project option. And when discussing the theory & practice of the idea in general, I’d say it was 2/3rds in favor of options, though most admitted they probably didn’t care that much either way.

The ones who picked the options, I’m getting a smattering of all the choices – no one option seems to take precedence. Also, I’ve had many of these kids submit their work for a proof-read. Is it that this subgroup are self-directed to begin with or was it “owning” the topic that led to this behavior???

Anyways, here are the comments I got. Many sparked serious debate, so don’t take them as unanimous by any means. Some were echoed from class to class, though he only ones which I heard from multiple kids in every class were “choice is always a good idea” and “we would have liked more notice about the options.”

Pro “Options”:
· Choices are a good thing · Calls for application, not “spit back” · Ability to go deeper into one item · Forced to go beyond class · Test knowledge doesn’t endure · Already are good test takers; this balances out the need for a project · Lets them pursue a natural interest · More fair to kids who are poor test-takers · Doesn’t punish someone who has a poor memory · Felt it was an equal way to assess · Felt the time ought to be the same

Anti “Options”:
· Need more notice · Felt the time wasn’t the same · Lets you opt out of what you’re weak at · Some options are more work, yet they receive equal credit · Options let someone really look at one topic, and thus may not understand the broader themes · Doesn’t enforce study skills · Projects give too emphasis on “pretty” and not enough on the topic it’s supposed to cover · Tests make students more accountable for the knowledge · Teachers can’t truly know whose work they’re looking at if projects are completed at home · Since some of the options were merely to plan a project, some felt frustrated by the lack of the ability to follow through in the given amount of time · Ought to have a option for a student proposal instead of choices I’ve made for them