Myron Dueck presents: Hope, Grace and Relationships – Making Grading and Assessment Decisions that Mirror Our Core Beliefs
By some estimates, we make as many as 35,000 remotely conscious decisions per day (UNC Science Now). While the vast majority of these choices are small and inconsequential, others are pivotal and can result in ripples felt for decades and span generations. Somewhere in this dizzying array of ‘forks in the road’ are the decisions we make concerning how we grade, assess, and report on the learning of other human beings. Research indicates that we form expectations of our environments based on our experiences, and these experiences are shaped by the decisions made in those environments. For instance, if you expect a great ambiance at your favorite restaurant, that’s a result of decisions others have made to make you feel that way.
Every day our students enter our classrooms with a set of expectations based on their past experiences. We wield immense power in shaping those expectations, determining if they are positive or negative. Join this session to examine how our grading and assessment decisions can build hope, confidence, and engagement. Participants can expect concrete examples of strategies and tools addressing redos, the use of zeros, homework strategies, and more.
Over the past 22 years, Myron Dueck has gained experience in both Canada and New Zealand in subjects ranging from grades 4 to 12. Beginning in 2006, Myron developed a number of assessments and grading systems with his classes in which students have greater opportunity to show what they understand, adapt to the feedback they receive, and play a significant role in the reporting of that learning. Myron has been a part of district groups, school committees, and governmental bodies that have further broadened his access to innovative steps taken by others. Myron has shared his stories, tools, and first-hand experiences with public, charter, and international school educators from around the world. In recent years Myron’s presentations have diverged to include human nature, global trends, and social realities. Myron has twice been published in EL Magazine. His best-selling book, Grading Smarter, Not Harder—Assessment Strategies that Motivate Kids and Help Them Learn was released by ASCD in July 2014, and in 2015 ASCD released a video project from in his own school district entitled Smarter Assessment in the Secondary Classroom.
