Outcomes Based Assessment, Culture Buzz, and School Craziness

It probably feels like this more than it should...

I take no small amount of pride in belonging to a profession that is continually evolving and changing so that it can become even better.  If teachers are going to instill the value of lifelong learning then we had better darn well be willing to walk the walk ourselves.  Two things that have been occupying a growing amount of PD time have to do with Curriculum Redesign and Outcomes Based Assessment.  In other words, we're changing up pretty much every single course offered in this province AND we are looking at ways to adapt how we measure and report on student performance.

Some quick thoughts on curriculum redesign: I'm generally for it.  Teaching social studies means that I am often talking about a world that is always in flux.  I can't, for example, easily teach a course on Globalization if I'm relying too heavily on a textbook that was first published 10 years ago.  In that time we've seen some pretty crazy stuff happen: the UK voted to leave the EU, the very map of the planet has changed, and I won't even get started with everything happening in the States.  If Alberta Education wants to streamline the number of content-based outcomes that I have to get through in a limited period of time, they're certainly welcome to do so.

For those feeling determined enough, they can look here for more information.

As for Outcomes Based Assessment... well, if I'm being honest I'm probably still a little on the fence with this one.

First, some key thoughts from me:

1. Teachers NEED to understand the courses that they teach.  Period.  It can't just be about 'teaching to the test' or emphasizing rote memorization.
2. Students SHOULD be aware of what is expected of them.  They should have a general understanding of what their teacher is grading them on.
3. Students and Parents deserve accessible and accurate information that reflects genuine progress and growth.

My concern with OBA (yep... I'm being lazy...) isn't that we are considering moving past letter grades and percentages.  I am still waiting, though, for a clear sense of what this is going to look like for students, parents, and teachers.

I think that there are some great questions asked on this page from the Calgary Board of Education, along with some examples of what the so-called report card just might look like.  What I find interesting, though, is the decision (at least then) to maintain more traditional assessments for students in Grades 10 to 12.

I'm not sure what this journey will look like over the next couple of years but I am eager to see what my part in that will be.

Movies

I managed to take advantage of some down time and see a couple of films over the weekend: one with some good friends and another with my family.

With Ghost in the Shell, I went in with no background knowledge whatsoever.  I hadn't read the graphic novel or any other of the films previously done so I was pretty clueless.  In fact, I'm probably still a little clueless about many aspects of the story.

I try to avoid reading reviews before seeing films so that I can form my own opinion but I knew that this one wasn't scoring too well.  However, I left feeling mainly satisfied by an interesting story coupled with some pretty impressive cinematography.  It also raises some interesting questions about the nature of humanity as science fiction often does.

I'll give this 3 out of 5 because I can.

I also got to check out Power Rangers with my wife and our four boys.  Now for some quick context... I think I was in Grade 5 when this show first started airing in Canada on YTV.  I'm not sure why, but I seemed to recall that it wasn't really cool to admit that you watched the show.  Although, I have a feeling that there were a lot of public critics who maintained a pretty steady viewership away from prying eyes.

I quite enjoyed most of the film, especially the focus on the characters and how they ultimately come together as a team.  There was quite a bit of humour and I often realized that I was smiling and laughing while watching.  

Power Rangers gets a solid 4 out of 5.

As an added bonus, I got to see the trailer for Edgar Wright's newest film out this summer called Baby Driver.  I've been a big fan of Wright's work with Hot Fuzz ranking as one of my all-time favourite movies.  This looks to be fun.

 Shenanigans

I'm always grateful when the winter comes to an end and we can get outside a bit more.  Sometimes things get a little crazy... in a good way.  =)

Enjoy what remains of the weekend!

Get Blogging, Mr. Thompson!

It would be super easy to just let this whole blogging thing curl up and die.  Like Voldemort in "The Deathly Hallows: Part 2"... only less gross.  I can't help but feel, though, that the insight I can gain from a little bit of reflection far outweighs the extra time I might gain to do something more lazy.  And I really like being lazy sometimes.

Once again, I find myself needing to recommit.  Here are a few quick thoughts...

READING

It didn't take long into the semester to introduce my Grade 8s to my grand plan of reading more books over the course of the year.  I've even had some successes.  Most of the kids appear to enjoy the time that they get to read something that they are interested in.  Some books have become quite popular, possibly necessitating the need to secure additional copies.  Perhaps more telling, though, is the fact that a handful of students who were convinced at the beginning of the year that this just wasn't for them, have found themselves regularly buried in a book... and even liking it.

A bigger challenge has been the regular implementation of the 'Reader's Notebooks'... an idea that seemed simple enough in it's execution.  I would purchase a simple notebook for every student (which I did), and then I would collect them at the end of each week.  I would then read and respond to every single entry shared with me.  This, however, has proven to be more difficult than I had planned on.  The first time I read through them, for example, it took me over 5 hours to do so.  While the feedback from students has been invaluable, I have sometimes struggled with the prospect of occupying so much of my weekends with these notebooks.

Overall, I'm happy with a lot of the things that I have seen so far, but I have to admit, that I can approach reading with a more positive attitude in spite of the day-to-day that can sometimes sap the class and I of our enthusiasm.  I can't just provide the time to read and act with a seeming indifference when it's time to move on.  

There is still work to do.

JOURNEY

I recently took to a little bit of time to play through a game on PS4 called "Journey."  I remember being intrigued by the concept when the game first released on PS3 in 2012.  I just never got around to it.  Well, it was free last month with Sony's monthly subscription program... and I like free things.

This would be what I would call an 'artsy' game: not a genre that I've always enjoyed in the past.  The objective isn't always abundantly clear other than seeing a giant mountain in the background and knowing that's where you need to go.  There's no traditional action or combat... it's just... a journey that you're on.  And I quite liked it.

I'd recommend this one for those who have yet to take the plunge.  It only lasts about the length of an average Hollywood film, but it left me thinking quite a bit about the presentation and, admittedly, the emotions I felt.  I have also found myself playing the soundtrack in the background while doing some work or when I've needed some quiet time.  It has been quite therapeutic.

I'm already telling myself that I need to experience it again... once I take care of those Reader's Notebooks first.

SO MANY MOVIES!!!

It's a very good time to be a fan of geeky movies.  I have a few on my radar, and by that I mean I actually have a countdown on the whiteboard in my classroom.

ONE LAST THING...

It's my intention to start providing some more 'educational' insights and not just make myself some sort of middle man between YouTube and my very limited audience.  I did come across this last gem which I en joy watching with my boys.  My body is too 'big-boned' and I'm too scared to do this for real.  Videos like these will be the closest that I will likely get to thrill seeking for the rest of my life.

More to come...

~Mr.T

Groundhog Day!

At the risk of dating myself more than I would like, today would be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy one of the all-time theatrical greats: Groundhog Day.

If you are of the mind to enjoy a bit of light-hearted frivolity at Gobbler's Knob, you should see this film.  No... you MUST see this film.

You're welcome.

~Mr. T