Handouts are available below.

Big Idea

Do you “do” Standards-Based Grading by giving an end-of-year science skills test? I’ve heard of some departments who are doing that. Truth is, end-of-year skills tests aren’t Standards-Based Grading. 

Episode Notes

Here are a couple of big ideas on how end-of-year skills tests aren’t Standards-Gased Grading:

1. In SBG, students are assessed on their proficiency of standards (ie skills like analyzing graphs, developing arguments)
2. In SBG, students are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency at a standard.
3. An end of year test on standards still places the focus on traditional assessments content knowledge. Also, an end of year test doesn’t give students multiple opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency at a standard or demonstrate growth at that standard.
4. Going forward, one thing you can do when you’re switching to SBG is to include standards that you’ll assess regularly on your tests. This can be a skill like writing an argument or analyzing a model. If you do this over the course of 5 or 6 tests throughout the year, by the end of it all, a student should be pretty comfortable with that skill since they’ve had all year to develop it.

Resources

Handout(s): Ep95 Handouts – End-of-Year Tests Are NOT Standards-Based Grading

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