#flipcon12 archives: A Flipped Approach to Assessment (Marc Siegel)

 I was able to watch Marc's archived presentation from #flipcon12... here are some notes that stood out to me and my reflections...

I would highly suggest you check out the session yourself as well, because what stood out to me may not be what impacts you the most! :) 
Register for virtual access to all these sessions here.

• Support is the key to success in the Flipped Classroom. You need to reach out!
• Classroom guidelines - You need to alter your mindset.  Normally rules are set up with a punishment if the rules aren't followed.  These are his classroom guidelines, and the "guidelines" he set up for his session.
• Be open-minded
• Don't say no to anything presented. At least consider everything.
• Be a critical thinker
• The status quo is unacceptable here. You must think outside the box.
• "I don't just think outside the box, I tear it up" - Fast and the Furious
• "I'm so far outside the box, the box is a dot"
• Take initiative
• Dare to Fail
• You cannot know what you know, you cannot know how to improve unless you fail miserably.

I like these "guidelines", and I have similar ones for my class - they are my "rules for success", but maybe I will cut out the word "rules" and make it "guidelines for success".

Guidelines for Success in Mrs. Kirch's Class

K- Keep Mrs. Kirch Happy (attention, performance, effort)

I- Initiate Communication (online, in person)

R-Remain Honest (all you do, say, submit)

C-Complete All Assignments (thoroughly, thoughtfully, on time)

H-Have a positive attitude (be 'present', be open to learning, limit side talking, participate fully)

• Conversation with principal: "I am going to increase the amount of conversation I have with my students, and I am going to be there every step of the way"

  Note: Save this quote and use in my #flipclass introduction somewhere.

• He started off with the "literal flip" (Flipping 101) and by the end of the year he was BORED - all he was doing was homework help in class, with a lab here or there.  Students said they loved the extra time, but something needed to change!
• Everything was assignment-driven. 
• Three questions that need to be addressed:
• What's the purpose of the assignment? What does it measure?
• Is this assignment measuring what I think it is measuring?
• Is there There must be a better way!
• We must design the assignment around the objective, not design the objective around the assignment. 

This is one of my concerns with fully flipping for a school year.  Even just doing it for 6-7 months, some of my students got sick of it and bored with it. I know I did not provide enough variety, and it's been my goal this summer so far to start thinking about that.  I think somehow working with menus (choice boards) will help with this, but I still haven't had time to sit down and wrap my head around it. Coming soon, I guess :)

• What's the purpose of assessment in a traditional classroom?
• measure student understanding
• modify instruction
• meet objectives
• All of these occur under the supervision of the teacher.  They are teacher-initiated.
• Typically individual

This next year, I think I am still going to have concept quizzes (taken when students are ready, but with deadlines) and unit tests (all taken on the same day).  However, I would like to incorporate "non-traditional" assessment as well through projects, student-created videos, etc. It's still a barrier for me to count those assessments in the gradebook as "real assessments" (meaning like a test), but it's a process I will have to work through at my own pace because I see value in the non-traditional assessment.

• "If I can build skills - if I can build my technology skills, my group work skills, my lab skills, my critical thinking skills - for two weeks... then I can teach content." 

I really really really hope I can do this in August. I tend to always jump in, but I need to slow down and teach skills first. I am not sure how to teach these and still keep the rigor of the first week of school to the level that I like to start the year off at.  Again, I've got a month to think about it :)

• Critical thinking skills (thinking beyond the surface of the problems)
• Communication skills (with me and their peers)
• Writing/reflecting skills (WSQ)
• Basic internet skills (based on the sites they'll be accessing)
• Video watching skills 

• Objectives
• Develop a common objective/definition for assessment in a flipped classroom
• Identify aspects of a traditional assignment that can be easily modified to meet our new definition
• Ideas: http://goo.gl/LbOMA 
• Ideas to consider
• Will these modifications give students greater understanding?
• Where's the creativity?
• Does it give the students choice?
• Problem-based?
• Inquiry driven?

Ideas

• Have students not come up with "right" answers, but come up with "wrong" answers that could occur. Oh I like this! What a great activity for students to do! Definitely going to try this.  I can see that it will take some training in not having kids come up with cheesy mistakes, but actually ones that could be made by them or their classmates.
• In order to retake, they have to come in for a minimum 15 minute appointment with the teacher to go over the assessment. I like this idea as well, especially the one-to-one communication part. So many students of mine just review the test individually, study individually, rewatch videos individually, and I don't really get to see where their misconceptions were and address them with them.