Evaluation and Triangulation

Proper evaluation of academic/teaching/learning programs is essential to keep the quality of the program at the highest and most effective level as possible. Especially in physical education there is an overwhelmingly high demand placed on the learning within all three of the domains, consistent quality evaluation of the student's learning, the curriculum and opportunities, and the community impact should be looked at.

Student learning can be evaluated by different forms of different assessments. There is a wide range of assessment types, and such assessments need to change depending on which domain is being tested. For example cognitive learning, affective learning and psychomotor learning at all different, thus need to be assessed differently as well, to ensure an accurate gage on where the student's learning and understanding is. As well as how well the program is helping and assisting students in the learning process.

Community impact is looking at the cost-effectiveness of the program within the triangulation realm. It is asking is the time, price, effort, costs truly having a positive influence on the program? For example, in physical education the price of equipment to help aid in student's learning is rather expensive and commonly misunderstood as too it's importance to the program. The community may have to come together to help aid in the costs of such important needs.

Curriculum and opportunities needs to be under constant review as well as student learning. This can be a bit difficult in the PE setting because typically it is more geared towards teaching and then having students active and doing which leaves little time for assessing the students and curriculum all the time. To realistically assess as often as possible the alloted time given towards the physical education time for students should be increased.

So in short, student learning (assessments towards goals and objectives), Curriculum and opportunities (constant review of the curriculum), and Community impact (the cost-effectiveness of the program and program needs) are what makes up triangulation. Which is a very effective and positive way to ensure the quality and effectiveness of a program. !

About Gradebook

Dear Ms. Sime,
I am writing to respond towards your comments of gradekeeper. The program is a successful program, depending on what you are looking to do. It does a great job to help organize the student's information and grades. I find it extremely helpful and useful for my needs. The assignments and grades are easy to keep track of, as well as what exactly the assignment was. The student's emails can be put into the system so you have easy access to that as well. Another feature I find extremely helpful is the extra credit piece. I offer lots of opportunities for my students to receive extra credit. However, it is obviously optional, so if students choose to not participate in the extra credit, that choice can not have a negative effect on their grade. This program allows to me enter something as an extra credit grade and a missing grade for a student who chose not to participate, their grade is not effected.

I hope that this helps you to feel more confident about the program.
Feel free to email me with anymore other questions or concerns.

Scottie

AHH So much to choose from!

After conducting my google searching to find different gradebook software I realized the unbelieveable amount of options out there. I decided to go with the basic gradekeeper for windows.
This is how the website explains it's pros and cons of the software:
which can be found at http://www.gradekeeper.com/

Version 6.5 makes the following improvements:

• Can now export email addresses
• Can now edit and lock the term grade
• Can include tardies in attendance deduction
• Missing extra credit work is considered excused
• Assignment scores report includes basic statistics
• Class summary report includes breakdown by grade
• Can click column header to sort by ID, name, or grade
• Can enter negative scores to deduct from points possible
• Can enter multiple email addresses in each student email field
• Can use up and down arrow to change assignment date by one day

I think I need to play with the software before I feel confident with it. But I think with time it will be a very helpful tool.

My Man Marzano

After reading the first two chapters of Marzano's book I was rather pleased with some of his ideas. I realized the significance and importance of quality and appropriate feedback to help lead students to a successful educational career.

Physical education is an environment which exposed students to step out of their comfort zone. Students tend to shut down immediately if they do not succeed, so it is vital for physical educators to provide opportunities for success. It is also important for the instructors to provide feedback which helps students to understand why what is working and why what is not working.

Also, depending on the activity, it is very important for educators to include both formative and summative assessment plans in their curriculum. Both forms have their benefits and by using both is utilize that opportunity to harness both of those benefits.

I also agree with Marzano's argument that standards have actually handicapped the learning and teaching process. There is just too much content to cover, and it seems that teachers are more focused on the standards than the actual learning that is taking place!

Group Assessments

Group assessment ideas after reading articles:
For the 10th through 12th grade levels.

Teach others about yourself, and learn about others. Introduction to each other
*to help gain respect for yourself and others
*except that individuals are different and that is a OKAY thing to be different.

Icebreakers
*initiative games to break down personal barriors
*cooperative games to build team work
*help build respect among classmates and eventually group members

Discuss expectations
*go over what is going to be assigned as group work
*encourage students to work with new people
*explain groups should not have same group members on group assignments, so choose each group wisely

Groups
*group members will grade each other on their work and participation in the group
*teacher will also grade based on observations in class and feedback from groups, and obviously quality of work
*improvement as group teamwork is expected throughout the quarters and year

Culture presentation
*students in groups will research a culture and give a presentation to the class

Culture lesson
*students in groups will learn a traditional game/sport or activity of the studied culture and a competitive game/sport or activity and teach to the entire class

Reflection
*students will write a professional and honest reflection report on how their group worked. what worked well, what didn't work well and why they thing this is.
*students will state what they learned and what they would do differently in the future.

The students will be given class time to practice their activities and sports in class time. students will also have the opportunity to discuss what their plan is with the teacher during class time. For the first group project the teacher will form groups for the students. The instructor needs to provide the opportunity for students to privately discuss concerns with the group members. However, as upperclassmen they should be able to handle simple delegation of work individually.

Letters

Dear School District,

I have a morning ritual of reading the Chicago Tribune, and to my dismay an issue we were just discussing last night around the dinner table was addressed in the new paper today. The issue I am referring to is the confusion around my child's grades, and the new grading system.

To be honest, the article actually helped clear the air and help us understand some of the questions we had. However, we still are curious about a few things. For example my daughter is in 2nd grade and using the 1-4 grading system, which we have finally figured out. We are confused as to whether or not she will have a new grading system for the upcoming 3rd grade year? If no, what kind of grading system will be used?

I am unclear why there are so many different grading systems, so if you could please clarify this for me it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
have a nice day,

Annika Jones


Dear Mrs. Jones,

Thank you for your letter of interest. Surprisingly we have received a number of letters from parents regarding this topic based off the Tribune article.

In response to your question regarding the grading system for your daughter, as of now she will have the same grading system she had this past year. However, we are continually trying to improve the new grading format to most accurately show your child's performance as an individual. The old grading system pinned students against one another, not actually assessing them on their personal performance.

I hope this answers your questions.
If you have anymore questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Tera Cloude
Principal