Balanced Approach to Assessment for Learning w/ Damian Cooper

For most curriculums worldwide, outcomes based on knowledge retention are diminishing rapidly and replaced with outcomes based on skills, competencies, and understanding. In this episode, Damian Cooper, the author of Rebooting Assessment, A Practical Guide for Balancing Conversations, Performances, and Products, joins us on the show as we explore a balanced approach to assessment for learning. In the session, Damian expounds on integrating conversations and performance-based observations to foster deeper student engagement, greater equality, and increased reliability. Moreover, we delve into the role of formative and summative assessments, triangulation, and digital evidence in assessment, as well as creating positive relations with students to support assessment. Ultimately, Cooper emphasizes the importance of the teachers' readiness scale to differentiate teachers' professional learning based on their comfort and competency levels with assessment and digital devices. Tune in for more insights! Timestamps [01:13] Housekeeping items [01:43] Introducing the guest, “Damian Cooper.” [04:52] Implications of a balanced classroom assessment on student learning outcomes [08:13] Behavioral component in grading [09:14] Differentiating assessment components such as knowledge, understanding, skills, competencies, and dispositions in assessment & assessing them qualitatively [16:44] Purpose of assessment [19:40] How teachers can create a learning environment characterized by trust & collaboration [23:09] How teachers can use technology to create a learning environment characterized by trust & collaboration [29:04] Teachers' readiness scale to assess their comfort level with different types of assessment [31:26] Strategies to increase student engagement [34:43] Benefits of engaging students in self & peer assessments [36:31] Advice to teachers getting started [37:31] How to connect with Damian Cooper Quotes ● “If we want to assess students' ability to converse, argue, debate, problem solve, think critically, relying upon paper-based assessments is not only inadequate but often invalid.” ● “One size doesn’t fit all for a classroom for students & it certainly doesn’t fit when it comes to teacher professional learning.” Mentioned Book Rebooting Assessment: A Practical Guide for Balancing Conversations, Performances, and Products by Damian Cooper & Jeff Catania Let’s Connect Connect with Damian Cooper; ● Email: [email protected] ● Twitter: @cooperd1954 ● Website: http://www.planteachassess.com/ Connect with Dr. Dana Specker Watts on; ● Twitter: https://twitter.com/teachwatts Connect with Mike Pierre on; ● Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ayitis_SigmaMan More resources ● Head over to iss.edu/events to see future PD's that ISS is offering for the SY 22-23. ● Join the Diversity Collaborative platform-https://info.iss.edu/sign-up-diversity-collaborative ● Head over to https://www.seniainternational.org/ to check out inclusion education practices for individuals with disabilities and ensure their potential is fully maximized.