Keeping Assessment Relevant and "Authentic"

TL;DR

Math teacher at School of the Future uses authentic assessments to help students understand their mistakes and improve their math skills.

Transcript

I would prefer you to not take the calculator outta the room, thinking, "I need to use my calculator," and then leave it on the stairs and then I cry, when I'm like, "Where's the calculator?" >>Ben is my math teacher. He immediately made the impression on me that he was funny and that he was eager to teach kids and that he really liked his job. H... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Benjamin Mook prioritizes understanding and effort over correct answers in his assessments.
• 🧑‍🎓 Mistakes made by students are valuable teaching opportunities for Mook.
• 🧑‍🎓 Real-life applications of math help students see the practicality and relevance of what they learn.
• 👻 Mook's teaching approach allows him to coach students individually and anticipate their problems.
• 🤔 Authentic assessments challenge students to think like scientists, historians, readers, and writers.
• 🤔 The goal is to guide students in their thought process rather than simply giving them a grade.
• 🧑‍🎓 Assessment helps teachers understand where students are and how to support their progress.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is an authentic assessment?

An authentic assessment is a task or activity designed by a teacher to meet the specific needs of their students, emphasizing skills and understanding rather than just correct answers. It allows students to showcase their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.

Q: How does Benjamin Mook use student mistakes as teaching tools?

Mook takes mistakes made by students, regardless of their academic level, and presents them as questions to the class later on. This allows students to analyze the error in thought process, learn from it, and develop ways to remediate the mistake.

Q: Why does Mook use incorrect work or answers as assessments?

Mook believes that by giving students incorrect work or answers, he can challenge them to break down the errors in thought process. This exercise helps students understand how mistakes can happen and how they can help their classmates or tutor remediate those mistakes.

Q: How does math connect to real-life for Mook's students?

Mook designs math activities that relate to real-life situations, such as applying the slope formula to check compliance with building codes. He aims to show students the practicality and relevance of math in everyday life.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Benjamin Mook, a math teacher, is known for his humor and eagerness to teach math to his students.

• He believes in designing authentic assessments that focus on students' understanding of the steps and thought process, rather than just getting the right answer.

• Mook utilizes student mistakes as teaching opportunities by posing them as questions to the class days later.