“Professionals present their work in high-stakes situations. Doctoral students defend their research to panels of experts. What if students also presented their work to experts and to the broader community? This gives them an opportunity to create their own story of their learning, and to represent the value of their work.” ~ schoolretool.org
Today's Workshop
In recent years the Nipmuc community has placed a growing emphasis on the idea of assessment for learning - not simply assessment of learning. One way that we explored this concept is through showcases of learning. This idea is not a new one for Nipmuc. For decades students in the art program have highlighted their work through the annual Fine Arts Festival or Art Show.
However, with the development of our beliefs about learning and definition of learning - students and teachers have expanded the role of showcases of learning in the culture of our school. Last year alone, Nipmuc hosted a science symposium, impact & activism showcase, computer science symposium, ELA night, DECA, and civics symposium in addition to the art show. |
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For all of learners, these showcases have provided a powerful way to support authentic, meaningful, and impactful learning experiences. In today’s workshop, we’ll support this school-wide effort by further exploring showcases and building momentum and expertise to support this authentic learning experience.
Through today's workshop, we will:
Through today's workshop, we will:
- Build a common definition of showcases of learning
- Learn about the student experience with this type of authentic assessment
- Explore the elements of high-quality showcases of learning
- Identify key ideas to support the design of effective showcases of learning
- Define how showcases support the exploration of the MURSD Portrait of a Learner
Showcases, Celebrations, Symposiums, & Defenses:
Building a Common Definition
Showcases of learning come in many shapes, sizes, and names. As we begin today’s workshop, let’s take a moment to build a shared understanding of the topic we’re exploring. Working with the person beside you, think about how showcases, celebrations, symposiums, and defenses are distinct from each other. Then, write some defining characteristics of each type of assessment on a sticky note and post your ideas in the appropriate location around the room.
Check out the responses of the lead learners below.
Click on any of the thumbnails above to enlarge the image.
What Our Students Have to Say about Showcases of Learning
As part of today’s workshop, we’re fortunate to have several students with us who participated in showcases of learning at Nipmuc last year. Now that we’ve built a shared definition of showcases, let’s take a moment to learn about what they look like in action and their impact by hearing directly from our students.
In just a moment, we will give our showcase participants the chance to introduce themselves. Then, we’ll give everyone the chance to make their way around the room, hearing directly from the students about the showcase of learning they presented, and the impact of that experience. After they share their thoughts, take a moment to ask them questions to tap into the student experience of participating in a showcase.
As you ask questions consider topics such as:
Take notes as you meet with the students. When we are done, we’ll collect everyone’s key takeaways from the conversations.
In just a moment, we will give our showcase participants the chance to introduce themselves. Then, we’ll give everyone the chance to make their way around the room, hearing directly from the students about the showcase of learning they presented, and the impact of that experience. After they share their thoughts, take a moment to ask them questions to tap into the student experience of participating in a showcase.
As you ask questions consider topics such as:
- How did the showcase feel different from a typical assignment/assessment?
- What is the impact of having an audience beyond the classroom?
- What skills did you develop through showcase beyond content-specific learning?
Take notes as you meet with the students. When we are done, we’ll collect everyone’s key takeaways from the conversations.
What Research Says about Showcases of Learning
Showcases of learning are examples of performance assessments which provide the chance to demonstrate and evaluate learning.
In speaking with our students this afternoon, we have already captured some of the key elements of effective performance assessments. Now let’s take a look at how research defines high-quality performance assessments like showcases of learning. Some of the characteristics include:
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Considering these criteria, our next step will be to work together to identify specific strategies that students and teachers can consider as they explore showcases of learning. Using the ideas shared in this activity, we will compile a "toolkit" or reference sheet that can be used in planning, reflecting on, and carrying out truly powerful showcases of learning.
The steps are simple:
The steps are simple:
- Gather at the area of your assigned topic with your group members.
- Respond to the prompts at each area on the white boards.
- Some topics have resources available to you. Feel free to reference those or any other resources.
- Once you've added your ideas, we'll give everyone the chance to shift to each station to review the thoughts of other groups and add thoughts of your own.
Check out the work of our Lead Learners as they explored each of the characteristics.
Click on any of the thumbnails above to enlarge the image.
Next Steps
Showcases of learning are some of the most exciting ways that Nipmuc's learners engage in authentic work connected to the Portrait of a Learner. Through today's workshop, we have identified some of the ways to build off the success of this practice. Our next steps will be to collect and refine the ideas from this workshop to create a toolkit that students and teachers can when planning for their own showcases.