Using Quality Assessment in Professional Learning

Communities

Misconceptions Are Like the Big Gorilla in the Room

Misconceptions are not bad! They can be a good thing when PLC’s PURPOSEFULLY use

them to bridge students’ ideas with conceptual understanding of science.

Students’

Ideas

Conceptual

Understanding

nsta.org

Uncovering Student Ideas in Science

100 K-12 probing assessments that link core concepts and ideas in science to research on students’ commonly held ideas (AKA misconceptions).

ProbeA type of assessment that uncovers “hidden” ideas that often go unnoticed in the classroom that can pose significant barriers to learning

Example: Making Sound

• Prompt- Engaging/accessible context• Selected Responses, different formats (e.g.

justified list)• Justification- Rule or reasoning used

Teacher Background Notes

Probes Informed By

Coming Soon!

• Uncovering Student Ideas in Physical Science- 25 Force and Motion Formative Assessment Probes- Fall 2009

• Sound and Light• Electricity and Magnetism• Matter and Energy

Formative Assessment Classroom Techniques (FACTs)

Transformative Assessment

Assessment that fundamentally transforms teaching and learning.

Formative assessment works if implemented appropriately!

Key Point #9: Representations can reinforce or develop misconceptions

FACT: Card Sort Strategy

Examining Student Thinking

• Form a grade level PLC• Examine the probe. What concept or

learning goal does it target? Why would you use this probe?

• Probe clarification- What is the “best” answer?

Diagnostic and Formative Assessment

• What “ideas” do you see in the student work? How would you categorize the different ideas students have?

• What “formative” actions will your PLC take to build a bridge from where these students are to where you want them to be?

• What might you investigate further to explore this problem? What other student learning evidence will you collect?

Reflecting Back to the Key Characteristics of PLC’s

• Focus on Learning• Collaborative Culture Focused on Learning• Collective Inquiry• Action Orientation and Experimentation• Continuous Improvement• Results Orientation

Big Ideas of the Day

• 6 Characteristics of PLC’s• Change/Beliefs• Norms of Collaboration• Tools, Processes, and Resources to

Support PLC Work

Reflection FACT

I used to think PLC’s ____ but now I know ____; and I intend to do _______ when I go back to my site.