Going Viral with Assessment Reform

Imagine what it would be like…

To have a Report Card that:


·      Exists online and can be accessed by a student or teacher at any time.

·      Shows ownership of "learning and assessment" that is truly authentic.

·      Engages parents as collaborators in the students’ learning.

·      Provides opportunities for parents to provide feedback to support the learning.

·      Is portfolio based where a section is dialed into the student’s interests.

·      Is owned and directed by the student (and parent).

·      Provides feedback on specific skills and strategies for improvement.

·      Has a secure teacher feedback section that can be updated at anytime.

·      Is not organized by subject area.

·      Provides comments on student’s character development.

·      Makes a distinction between behavior, social development and academics.

·      Has a greater emphasis on work habit and effort.

·      Shows progression through to mastery of skill development.

·      Includes skill & assignment specific feedback given by teachers and peers.

·      Does not rank, order or file students.

·      Will not be used to create bench marks or compare schools.

·      Is recognized and valued by post secondary institutions.

·      Is carried on through Post Secondary.

·      Can be used as a valuable tool for job interviews.

Have we reached the precipice yet? 

As Professor Barnhardt, in “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2009), explains “It’s only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve.” Malcom Gladwell (2000) defines it as the Tipping Point, “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point." Gladwell also asserts that, "ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses."  If this is true, let’s start a pandemic on educational assessment reform! 

Join us by helping spread the word on assessment reform. We invite you to add to our list. Please include your pro’s and con’s to a new way of assessing our students. What else would you add to the list? 

Identify the stakeholders… Trust the process… Trust the people… Edu-Bring