Product Assessment
Have to echo the thoughts of those before me in that I really enjoy the product based assessment that has occurred in our MET courses versus cramming for a test that regurgitates info. It has also made me think about how I evaluate my students. I have to admit that there are a few more projects than before I started my master’s. But that’s in the English classroom.
As a music teacher and in the throes of getting ready for a major Fall Concert tomorrow evening with a Peace Ceremony on Thursday  morning (concerts back to back, I’m crazy), aren’t courses such as music and art very much product based assessment courses? The end product being the the performance of the music. Yes, I assess the kids as we are learning a piece. I think of the skills that are taught, reinforced, and as the students gain in mastery of the notes, the skills get better and the music sounds better (or so I hope).
To be continued but off to get the concert set up!
Posted in: Uncategorized, Week 10: Product-Based Assessments
Kristopher 6:02 am on November 9, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello!
We found as we were working through planning the week that PBA is in action all around us. The MET is packed with PBA (look at this assignment as an obvious example) and the non-RRR (reading, writing, ‘rithmetic) subjects always seem to focus on some type of product. A big part of PBA for me is taking the lessons learned from outside of those RRRs, and applying those assessment techniques in the RRR subjects.
What do you think?
themusicwoman 12:54 pm on November 9, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Dear Kristopher,
I agree that PBA definitely surrounds us in MET. And I’m certainly not complaining 🙂 As for applying those assessment techniques into the RRR subjects, it would be great. I have found that as I change my assignments into project/product based ones, the kids are actually more engaged and they do seem to learn more. Or maybe it’s the fact that they think it’s more fun to do a project than write a quiz! I actually think they are doing more work even though they may not realize it! I do find that it takes more time and preparation to get a really good project going but it’s worth it.
Thanks for the response!
kstooshnov 10:03 pm on November 9, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Michelle,
Hope that concert #1 was a success, and break a leg with #2 tomorrow. It is really interesting to hear your thoughts on assessment for both English and music, and more subject should have opportunities to show what the students know like a concert. I agree that the MET program has provided us with more than a fair share of end-products that we should feel comfortable bringing into our classrooms as inspiration for students to do the same. But we must also be aware that students should be prepared to take quizzes at some future stage of their education, so we should be hesitant to do away with them entirely.
Kyle