Virtual School Dispatches

Feedback Is the Hinge Instructionally, we established a goal to respond to student needs by improving student engagement and student achievement. In shifting our focus from assessing students to assessment for student learning, we have been exploring 3 ways of encouraging student assessment: Self-assessment : students evaluate and/or use metacognitive strategies, seek information and ways to correct learning, and creating self-teaching and self-regulating situations. Peer learning : we recognize that learning should be a social process, we seek ways for students to clarify information and processing with peers. Teacher interactions:  teachers will provide opportunities for student interactions with content, learning intentions and other students; they will design re-teaching opportunities and provide opportunities for students to correct assignments and assessments. In   Feedback: The Hinge that Joins Teaching and Learning,  Jane Pollock asserts that feedback, especially ...

  Running in the dark Over the past few weeks, I’ve been waking up around 4:30. I usually work for an hour or so before I go on a short morning run. With the sun rising later and later, I rely on my headlamp and streetlights to guide me. Last week, I tried a new route. My time was significantly slower; I was disappointed and dejected. I ran the same route the next day with the same results. On Friday, I returned to my original route and my time improved. What was the difference? My original route is well illuminated--High Street, Market Street, Downtown Mall--and my second route is not. This speaks to the importance of being able to see what’s in front of you and the need to reflect on our progress. As teachers we must illuminate the path for our students and provide them with opportunities to reflect on their progress. This is what excites me about student led conferences. When students know the learning intentions and criteria and are provided with frequent opportunities to refle...