Week 3 As the Intern - New Job, New Tools

As educators, we are responsible for effectively assessing our student's knowledge. What are those assessments supposed to look like?

Gardner's 8 Intelligences

During my studies at the Pennsylvania State University, I learned that intelligence can be exhibited in 8 different categories. These categories being spatial, linguistic-verbal, intrapersonal, interpersonal, musical, logical-mathematical, naturalistic, and bodily-kinesthetic.

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
(source: WordSmart App)

Hypothetically this means there are 8 different categories to consider when assessing knowledge. 

Does this mean that perhaps a student that performs poorly on a written test could sing, dance, paint, discuss, compute, or grow the information? 

This week I will be testing this theory as I use different strategies to check for student understanding of knowledge. My hope is that I find an increase in positive performance indicators (aka grades). 

Variability, Enthusiasm, and the Opportunity to Learn

Another theory I learned at Penn State was that effective educators will exhibit the following 5 things:

1. Business Like Behavior
2. Opportunities to Learn
3. Enthusiasm
4. Clarity 
5. Variability

I believe that offering variable forms of assessment will be enthusiastic and provide all students an opportunity to learn.

With That Being Said

Incorporating various forms of assessment in my classes should be fruitful as it is backed by years of knowledge. Stay tuned to hear about the new tools, or form of assessments I develop this week!