Internal Assessment Report:A qualitative report on the implementation of

district performance assessments and an update on the AIM initiative

Presentation to the Weston Board of EducationFebruary 24, 2015

Why are Internal Assessments Important?

All too often standardized testing results receive the most attention in education, while

assessments embedded into everyday classroom experiences are rarely discussed publicly.

AIM: 5 Years Later…

Key goals & accomplishments: •Encouraged innovation in the classroom•Fostered deep learning by engaging students in meaningful work•Provided valuable information to inform and drive instructional decisions

Partnership with Teachers College

AIM Implementation Plan

10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15

Pilot Year

Development Grades:2, 5, 8, WHS

Development Grades:1, 3, 4, 6, 7, WHS

Development Grades:K, WHS

Refinement

AIM Professional Development

Teacher training to:

•Design and implement units that foster AIM outcomes

•Collaboratively examine student work

•Analyze results to inform instruction

Why Do We Value Performance Assessments?

Performance assessments embedded into the curriculum serve a different purpose from standardized tests designed

for accountability reasons.

In Weston, performance assessments are authentic learning experiences that engage students in meaningful,

real-world tasks.

Characteristics of Weston Performance Assessments

Authentic Audience Self-Assessment and Personal Goal Setting

Motivating and Engaging Feedback and Revision

Student Choice and Voice Task Aligned to Rigorous Standards

Flexible Learning Environment Clear Expectations-Rubrics

Critical Thinking Creative Thinking Collaboration Communication Global

Evaluation and Justifying

Imagining

Engaging in Collective

Intelligence

Projecting

Engaging in Real-World Problem-

Solving

Interpreting

Simulating

Engaging in Distributed Cognition

Reflecting andMeta-Analysis

Engaging in Global Issues

Analyzing Innovating and

TransformingSuspending Judgment

Rationalizing and Contextualizing

Engaging in MultiplePerspectives

Synthesizing and Applying

Design and Research

Risk Taking and Tolerating Ambiguity

Connecting and Applying

Engage in Multiple Modalities

AIM Matrix of Learning Outcomes

How are the results presented and what do they tell us?

Infographic =Visual representation of the task

Performance Assessments

• Grade 2 Cornerstone• Grade 5 Cornerstone• Grade 7 Population Study • Grade 8 Cornerstone• Grade 10 Writing Portfolio

Key Takeaways

• Continue to provide teachers common meeting time to design, implement, score, and analyze learning experiences.

• Teacher training must include opportunities for teachers to learn how to teach to the AIM outcomes.

• It is important to elicit feedback from students.

• Weston’s Internal Assessment System is a work in progress as we refine performance assessments at each grade level.

Questions