Novel Idea: Standards Based Grading

Okay- joking on the "novel" part of this idea...

Have any of you read about or heard of Sean Cornally? In his blog: Think, Thank, Thunk he addresses 'cryptic' grading and 'boring teaching.' He even has a video on TED out that describes this radical idea that is so inspiring and practical: Let's grade students in a way that matters!

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Mini-posters

It is already June, and I dont' feel like I've done anything of importance! Maybe, that is a good thing :) Today I have sat down to map out my biology class curriculum-again. I do this every summer to incorporate ideas that I've discovered over the year. Today, I am focusing on my labs that I do/want to do in class. I still love my lab notebook and how it's changed over the last 13 years, but I'm not sold on my analysis/feedback system for the all-important: POST-LAB. In the past I've incorporated both formal and informal write-ups, analysis questions, summary/conclusion paragraphs. About 10 years ago, after attending a summer workshop that incorporated white boards, I was sold. I purchased shower board and cut it into pieces (approximately 2'x3'.) Since then, I have used the whiteboards for the peer-review section of the lab with gallery walks and rubrics (check out whiteboard stands here.) The mini-poster is similar, in that the students will put t...

Let me iterate....

No, not reiterate- but iterate. By definition, the word means to perform repeatedly. If we are practicing a physical skill, we know the power of iteration (muscle memory, etc.), but what about mental exercises? We've all heard the old saying "practice makes perfect." We are also aware that if we practice something incorrectly we will be reinforcing bad habits, misconceptions, and falsehoods. This is the reason homework, in its traditional sense, is so frustrating. Not only to students, but to the parents as well. I mean- really, really, frustrating! Unfortunately, many students are 'practicing' at home WITHOUT a content expert! I know what you're thinking...flip the classroom! And yes, I think this is a very real strategy that can transform learning, but I'm thinking of schmo's like me. My student's have a low completion rate when it comes to any task that requires time outside of class. What if, our class time was spent in engaging students in the...

Science From the 'Hart'

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