Taking The Pulse of Student Learning

How do we know if students are understanding or learning?  Does it always have to be a long, formal test or project?  This entry will focus on Informal Formative Assessment ... or more simply stated ... how do teachers quickly figure out if kids are getting it?  What does that look like in the Brawley Union High School District?  

In education, we often refer to this informal assessing as “taking the pulse” of the class.  If we are working with students on a particular topic, how do we know that the students are ready to show their learning? More importantly, if they aren’t getting it, what concepts do we need to re-teach?  Here are a few of the diagnostic ways teachers work with their students and help them along the way.

Teachers often check in with their students throughout the class.  They may have students raise hands to show understanding or even write their work on a small whiteboard to display.  In this manner, a teacher can see a clear picture in less than 30 seconds to take the pulse of learning at that moment.  Toward the end of the class, teachers often collect “Exit Tickets” or short responses that students leave as they exit class.  By taking a few minutes after class to review these tickets, the teacher knows what to address at the beginning of the next class.

With more collaboration comes more opportunities for students to work together on understanding.  Using Peer Evaluations is very effective in many classes to keep the pulse.  Physical Education teachers have students evaluate each other in their execution of sports and skills.  Drama students critique performances and the feedback allows students to adjust before the final assessment on particular topics.

More and more often, teachers are also turning to technology to take the pulse of learning.  Students can be found video-recording their responses in FlipGrid, which allows the teacher and students to give feedback in a very timely manner.  There are often Kahoot activities going on when teachers give the class short electronic quizzes for students to respond with a click.  Their answers are immediately tallied and feedback for both teacher and students is instant.

Although we are early in the year, it’s not uncommon to hear about assessments.  We always want to keep a steady hand on the pulse of each classroom to make sure that we can adjust instruction and assure that students have all opportunities to succeed in their work.  Most informal formative assessments don’t carry a grade with them for the student, which is important as well.  We need to give students time to make mistakes as they need without the consequence of a grade.  Helping students correct their thinking and learn from their mistakes helps keep our students healthy in their education.  

We can’t believe September is almost over . . . We wish everyone well as we finish out the month.

Personal Progress Report to BUHSD Staff:

Now at a 13.5-minute mile (I'm gearing up for the PE Baseline Run!)

Took the littles to see The Little Mermaid on stage in San Diego.
Spending a lot of time in classrooms observing lessons and giving feedback.

#ifnotusthenwho #hopesquad #brawleyproud #scorpionpride