Handouts are available below

Big Idea

How do we get more marks out of the projects we assign? This is important because I want to reduce the amount of time I spend marking projects while still getting more feedback and marks regarding my students. This is especially important because switching to Standards Based Grading has forced me to change what I assess and how I should assess it. For example, I now need to assess Planning and Conducting and Designing Solutions (aka. Applying and Innovating). I could assign a bunch of labs and projects – for example – 8 each term and mark each one for a student’s ability to plan and conduct experiments or design solutions. But, that’s a lot of work, and a lot of marking. Instead, I’ve learned how to get more marks off of one project – and this has saved me a lot of time.

Episode Notes

• Assign projects that allow students to build and test solutions to a problem – AND, the results of these solutions need to be measurable. For each project, require students to build and test multiple prototypes. And, mark each prototype. This sounds like a lot of work, but, I mark prototypes by looking at the measurable results achieved by each prototype, which doesn’t take a lot of time at all.

• For each prototype, record how well the prototype worked against a standard that you set. Record these marks for Designing Solutions. If you require students to make 3 prototypes over the course of the project, then you’ll have 3 marks for Designing Solutions (aka. Applying and Innovating)

• Also, give marks for improvements made between prototypes. For example, if students made 3 prototypes, give an improvement mark between prototype 1 and prototype 2. And, give another improvement mark between prototype 2 and prototype 3. These marks can be assigned to Planning and Conducting.

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Thanks for watching, and let’s talk science education again soon.

Resources

Handout(s): Ep59 Handouts – One Easy Way to Get More Marks Out of Science Projects

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