In 2000, when High Tech High started, there was an idea floated that we should do Competence Grading. Competence Grading entails the measurement of "soft skills" such as collaboration, analysis, and problem-solving. We were supposed to walk around with PDA's (Personal Digital Assistant) and evaluate the students as they worked on projects together.
My colleagues and I rebelled and said, "That is preposterous, we will not have time to do this constant grading." We continued with Project Based Learning, and some teachers were successful, and some were not.
I thought I was successful doing Project Based Learning working with other teachers in an integrated subject approach for 17 years. For the most part, my teaching partners would follow my lead, especially in regards to progressive practices. Letting the students have voice and choice and evaluating them on growth and what they made or did rather than traditional quizzes and tests.
From time to time, I did run into problems with teaching partners that did not have this progressive mindset. They would tell me, "The students can't start working on projects until they all pass a quiz on the book I am making them read." There were so many things wrong with this traditional attitude (If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!) ; I tried to explain to my partner that they could backfill with texts and quizzes after the students started their projects. That way any quiz or text would have a context and the students would find the books and quizzes added to their understanding. Many teachers would not change, that was they were educated, that was the way they would teach. It wasn't long before such teachers found that High Tech High was not the place for them.
Now that Competence Grading is making a comeback, I get how and where it should be used. If a teacher is a traditional lecturer, quiz on Wednesday, test on Friday, kind of teacher, Competency Grading can be used to bring this teacher to a new understanding of how to evaluate the students on growth, collaborative effort, revision, and perseverance. Competence Grading can be used to increase student understanding and increase their abilities through practice instead of fill in the blank, guess what answer is right, or memorization. If a teacher doesn't have the will or skill set to do projects, Competency Grading is one step on the road toward being a progressive teacher.
I did not need Competency Grading because I teach as my graduate school professors taught me. Those professors made suggestions, helped me evaluate and analyze my work. They helped me discover what would help improve my work after I left school. It was perfect. Art school was pretty great.
You have to be progressive to teach PBL fairly and effectively. If you can't let go of your past practice and your own education, use Competence Grading to open up your eyes to what is really important, teaching your students to think and do great work when you are not there anymore.
Think about what made these experiences important and what the teachers did that caused you to learn. There was a good chance they were asking you to improve your work, think about what you could do next, even about how to do it better.
Your effective teachers were likely doing Competence Grading Use Competence Grading to open up your eyes to what is essential, teaching your students how to think and do great work even when you are not there anymore.
My colleagues and I rebelled and said, "That is preposterous, we will not have time to do this constant grading." We continued with Project Based Learning, and some teachers were successful, and some were not.
I thought I was successful doing Project Based Learning working with other teachers in an integrated subject approach for 17 years. For the most part, my teaching partners would follow my lead, especially in regards to progressive practices. Letting the students have voice and choice and evaluating them on growth and what they made or did rather than traditional quizzes and tests.
From time to time, I did run into problems with teaching partners that did not have this progressive mindset. They would tell me, "The students can't start working on projects until they all pass a quiz on the book I am making them read." There were so many things wrong with this traditional attitude (If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!) ; I tried to explain to my partner that they could backfill with texts and quizzes after the students started their projects. That way any quiz or text would have a context and the students would find the books and quizzes added to their understanding. Many teachers would not change, that was they were educated, that was the way they would teach. It wasn't long before such teachers found that High Tech High was not the place for them.
Now that Competence Grading is making a comeback, I get how and where it should be used. If a teacher is a traditional lecturer, quiz on Wednesday, test on Friday, kind of teacher, Competency Grading can be used to bring this teacher to a new understanding of how to evaluate the students on growth, collaborative effort, revision, and perseverance. Competence Grading can be used to increase student understanding and increase their abilities through practice instead of fill in the blank, guess what answer is right, or memorization. If a teacher doesn't have the will or skill set to do projects, Competency Grading is one step on the road toward being a progressive teacher.
I did not need Competency Grading because I teach as my graduate school professors taught me. Those professors made suggestions, helped me evaluate and analyze my work. They helped me discover what would help improve my work after I left school. It was perfect. Art school was pretty great.
You have to be progressive to teach PBL fairly and effectively. If you can't let go of your past practice and your own education, use Competence Grading to open up your eyes to what is really important, teaching your students to think and do great work when you are not there anymore.
Think about what made these experiences important and what the teachers did that caused you to learn. There was a good chance they were asking you to improve your work, think about what you could do next, even about how to do it better.
Your effective teachers were likely doing Competence Grading Use Competence Grading to open up your eyes to what is essential, teaching your students how to think and do great work even when you are not there anymore.
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