Have a Good Life: Changing assessments with Melissa Emler Transformative Principal 1048

Changing assessments with Melissa Emler Transformative Principal 1048

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 by jethrojones

Melissa Emler is the Director of Community at Modern Learning

Online media company to help schools change and be better. Really powerful conversations are happening regularly.
The Testing Emperor Finally has no Clothes
Modernlearners.com/jethro
All of the onus for learning is placed on the teacher.
It is the responsibility of teachers to create the conditions for learning to happen.
Communication beats compliance, every time.
Learning happens through feedback and questioning.
It is the student to communicate questions and understanding.
Going gradeless or standards based grading doesn’t really communicate learning.
We haven’t really had a conversation about what we mean by “learning”.
Seymour Sarason’s “What do you mean by learning?“
People are learning when they want to learn more.
It requires co-creating the curriculum
Our practices do not match our beliefs.
The amount of time we spend thinking, talking, planning for standardized tests.
Giving prizes for testing= :(
Beliefs must drive assessment.
Challenge assumptions, biases and orthodoxies that influence assessment practice.
Communication beats compliance, every time.
Explore status quo-busting assessment solutions to provide more authentic and real-world choices.
Let students learn about how they learn.
Measure what matters.
Invest in TRUST.
So important to trust teachers to create the conditions for learning to happen.
If we get to a common set of beliefs then we don’t need to pressure teachers to do well on a test.
Standards and tests change based on political issues.
how to be a transformative leader? Be strong in your individual beliefs.

Are you feeling like you are always behind at school? Do you feel like you need about 2 more hours each day to accomplish everything? Here’s how I help principals work manageable hours: Create your ideal week, so that you can leave work at work and enjoy your life!