Comprehensive Assessment: A New York City Success Story

Summary

The School of the Future emphasizes critical thinking and analysis skills to prepare students for the global economy. It focuses on authentic assessment to understand students' progress and thinking abilities, encouraging them to think like scientists or historians. Teachers and students collaborate as a team, fostering a sense of investment in learning. The school uses assessments to ensure students are genuinely progressing and to tailor teaching to individual needs.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The School of the Future was founded with a focus on technology, but its true distinction lies in fostering critical thinking skills for students' success in the global economy.
• 🔍 The school emphasizes the development of analysis skills, self-reliance, and community involvement as key components of a student's education.
• 📊 They believe that assessment should reflect what is taught, and they focus on authentic assessment to gauge students' abilities and thinking.
• 🧠 The school aims to teach students how to think like scientists, historians, and mathematicians, rather than just memorizing facts.
• 📐 In math classes, the goal is to move beyond just getting the right answer to understanding the application of math in real-life situations.
• 🌟 The school's approach to assessment is designed to show students their progress and empower them, which in turn improves their academic performance.
• 🤝 The relationship between students and teachers is collaborative, with both parties striving to learn and understand the subject matter.
• 👩‍🏫 Teachers are highly invested in their work, taking pride in their craft, which contributes to a stronger teaching environment.
• 🔥 Assessments are used to ensure that students are making genuine progress and that the school's educational methods are effective.
• 👥 The school values personalized teaching, where teachers consider the individual needs of their students to provide effective education.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the School of the Future?

The primary focus of the School of the Future is to develop critical thinking skills, analysis skills, self-reliance, and better community members among students to prepare them for success in the global economy.

How does the School of the Future approach assessment?

The School of the Future focuses on authentic assessment, aiming to understand what students should be able to do and the kind of thinking they should demonstrate, rather than just teaching to the test.

What is the significance of teaching students to 'think like a scientist' or 'think like a historian'?

Teaching students to 'think like a scientist' or 'think like a historian' emphasizes learning the discipline of thinking within each subject area, rather than just memorizing facts.

How does the School of the Future differentiate between 'thinking math' and 'doing math'?

The School of the Future believes there is a significant difference between 'thinking math' and 'doing math', where 'thinking math' involves understanding the concepts and applications beyond just getting the right answer.

What real-life application of math did the students work on according to the transcript?

The students applied the slope formula to a set of stairs to determine if they were in compliance with New York City building codes, demonstrating how math connects to real-life situations.

Why is it important for students to see their progress at school?

Seeing their progress empowers students, leading to better academic performance and increased investment in their education.

How is the relationship between students and teachers described at the School of the Future?

The relationship between students and teachers is described as a collaborative team effort, with both parties striving to learn the truth about the subjects being studied.

What is the impact of teachers being invested in their craft at the School of the Future?

When teachers are invested in their craft, they take pride in their teaching, which allows them to express themselves better and become stronger teachers.

How does the School of the Future use assessments to ensure students are making progress?

The School of the Future uses assessments to hold themselves accountable and ensure that students are truly making the necessary progress, rather than being misled by superficial classroom activities.

What does the School of the Future mean by teaching effectively?

Teaching effectively at the School of the Future means considering the individual needs of students and ensuring they are working on areas they need to improve, which makes students feel valued.

How does the School of the Future contextualize the push for assessment within its values?

The School of the Future contextualizes the push for assessment by focusing on authentic assessment that aligns with its values of what it means to be a good school, rather than just adhering to external assessment pressures.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 School of the Future: Cultivating Critical Thinkers

The School of the Future is distinguished not just by its focus on technology but by its dedication to fostering critical thinking skills in students. The school emphasizes the development of analysis skills, self-reliance, and community involvement. It recognizes the importance of authentic assessment that goes beyond traditional testing to reflect real-world applications and disciplinary thinking. The school aims to shift the focus from just learning content to learning how to think like a scientist or historian, thereby instilling a deeper understanding and application of knowledge.

📚 Authentic Assessment and Real-World Application

The school's approach to assessment is to ensure that it reflects the real-world application of knowledge. For instance, students apply mathematical concepts to real-life scenarios like calculating the slope of stairs to meet building codes. This approach aims to move beyond just getting the right answer to encouraging deeper thinking and understanding of the subject matter.

🌟 Progress and Investment in Learning

Students' progress is a key focus, with assessments designed to empower them and make them feel invested in their academic journey. The school believes that when students see their progress, they perform better academically and become more engaged. The assessment process is intended to be a constant reminder of their investment in learning.

🤝 Collaborative Learning Environment

The relationship between students and teachers at the School of the Future is collaborative, with both parties striving to learn together. This is in contrast to more traditional models where teachers instruct and students obey. The school fosters an environment where teachers and students work together as a team to discover truths and deepen understanding.

🏆 Teacher Investment and Pride in Craft

Teachers at the School of the Future are deeply invested in their work, taking pride in their teaching craft. This investment is seen as crucial for effective teaching, as it allows teachers to express themselves better and become stronger educators. The school values the individuality and dedication that teachers bring to their roles.

🔍 Assessments as a Reality Check

Assessments are used as a tool to ensure that the school is not deceived by superficial appearances of success. The school wants to ensure that students are genuinely progressing and learning, not just appearing to be engaged. Assessments are a way to hold the school accountable for the quality of education it provides.

👨‍🏫 Personalized Teaching for Student Success

Effective teaching at the School of the Future involves understanding the individual needs of students. Teachers are encouraged to consider who is in front of them and what they need to learn, which helps students feel valued. This personalized approach to teaching is believed to lead to greater student success and appreciation for the educational process.

Keywords

💡Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking skills refer to the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information to make informed decisions. In the context of the video, the school emphasizes developing these skills in students to prepare them for success in a global economy. The school's approach to education is centered around fostering critical thinking rather than just memorization, aiming to equip students with the ability to question, analyze, and solve complex problems. An example from the script mentions making students 'critical thinkers' and developing their 'analysis skills'.

💡Global Economy

The global economy refers to the complex system of economic activities and interactions that span across different countries. The video underscores the importance of preparing students for success in this interconnected world. By focusing on critical thinking and analysis skills, the school aims to ready students to thrive in a competitive international job market. The script mentions that these skills are necessary for students to be successful 'in this global economy'.

💡Authentic Assessment

Authentic assessment is a method of evaluating students based on real-world tasks and problems that reflect the skills and knowledge they need in their future careers or education. The video describes the school's dedication to this form of assessment to ensure students demonstrate practical thinking and problem-solving abilities. An example is given where students apply the slope formula to stairs to check compliance with building codes, illustrating how math is connected to real-life scenarios.

💡Disciplinary Thinking

Disciplinary thinking involves learning to approach problems and think in the way that experts in a particular field do. The video emphasizes teaching students not just facts but also the thought processes characteristic of different disciplines, such as science or history. This approach helps students to 'think like a scientist' or 'think like a historian,' which is more than just memorizing information; it's about understanding and applying disciplinary methods.

💡Progress

Progress, in an educational context, refers to the advancement or improvement a student makes in their learning journey. The video discusses the importance of assessing students in a way that helps them recognize and feel empowered by their progress. This is crucial for student motivation and engagement. The script mentions that students struggle when they don't feel like they're making progress, and effective assessment can help them see their growth.

💡Investment

In the video, investment refers to the idea that students should be actively involved and committed to their learning process. The school aims to foster a sense of investment in students through the assessment process, which helps them see the value and progress in their education. This is contrasted with a passive approach where students might feel like they are just obeying instructions. The script talks about the goal of assessments being to make students feel invested in their academic progress.

💡Collaborative Environment

A collaborative environment is one where students and teachers work together towards a common goal, often involving shared learning and problem-solving. The video describes the school's unique relationship between students and teachers as a team striving for truth and understanding. This is in contrast to more traditional models where the teacher might dictate and the student follows. The script highlights this collaborative approach as a key feature of the school's educational philosophy.

💡Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship, in the context of teaching, refers to the pride and dedication teachers have in their profession and the skill with which they perform their duties. The video suggests that teachers at the school take great pride in their 'craft' and this investment in their profession makes them more effective educators. The script mentions that teachers have 'a lot of pride in their craftsmanship' which allows them to express themselves better and become stronger teachers.

💡Real-life Application

Real-life application involves connecting academic concepts to practical, everyday situations. The video gives an example of students using the slope formula to assess the compliance of stairs with building codes, demonstrating how mathematical concepts can be applied outside the classroom. This approach helps students understand the relevance of what they are learning and can make education more engaging and meaningful.

💡Assessment

Assessment in education is the process of evaluating student performance to measure their learning and progress. The video discusses the school's approach to assessment as a tool for ensuring that students are truly learning and progressing, rather than just appearing to be engaged. The script mentions using assessments to 'hold our feet to the fire' and to avoid being deluded by superficial classroom activities.

💡Student-Centered Learning

Student-centered learning is an educational approach that focuses on the needs and interests of the students, rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum. The video suggests that effective teaching requires understanding who the students are and what they need, which makes them feel valued. This approach is exemplified in the script by the idea that students appreciate working on something that is relevant to them, indicating a focus on personalized learning.

Highlights

The School of the Future was founded as a technology school twenty years ago.

The school focuses on developing critical thinking skills for students to succeed in the global economy.

The school's dedication is to make students critical thinkers and better community members.

Assessment is contextualized within the school's values to ensure authentic learning.

Students are encouraged to think like scientists and historians, not just learn facts.

The school emphasizes the importance of discipline-specific thinking.

Students are taught that there is more to math than just getting the right answer.

Math is applied to real-life scenarios, such as New York City building codes.

Assessments are designed to show students their progress and empower them.

The school fosters a collaborative environment between students and teachers.

Teachers are invested in their craft and take pride in their teaching methods.

Assessments are used to ensure that students are making necessary progress.

The school values effective teaching that considers the individual needs of students.

Students feel valued when they work on tasks tailored to their needs.

The school is committed to making sure that what is taught aligns with real-world applications.

The school's approach to education is dynamic and constantly evolving.

The school's educational philosophy is centered around the idea of self-reliance.

The school's community values the importance of analysis skills in students.

The school's approach to teaching is student-centered and focuses on empowerment.

Transcripts

>>What makes it School of the Future?

We always say it was founded as a school

of technology twenty years ago,

but that's not really what makes us distinctive.

What makes the School of the Future is that we really put our energy

and our thoughts and planning into what are the critical thinking skills

that our students need to be successful in this global economy

and that's a dynamic process, so our dedication here is

about making our kids critical thinkers,

making our kids develop their analysis skills,

making them be more self reliant and better community members.

>>I think that what you assess ends up being what you teach

and especially in like a political landscape such as ours right now,

that's really valuing assessment, our school has really had to figure out,

how do we contextualize this push for assessment

in our school that's always had particular values

of what it means to be a good school?

We think about authentic assessment, we're trying to figure

out what our kids should be able to do,

and what kind of thinking they should be able to demonstrate.

We want them to say, when they're in a class,

it's not just like you're learning science.

You're learning how to think like a scientist.

Or you're not learning history, you're learning how

to think like a historian.

So it's really also learning like the discipline of thinking.

>>There's a huge difference between thinking math and doing math.

A difficulty that I deal with, a lot of kids still think

that getting the right answer is enough.

Like once you have the right answer, you've done all that could be asked

of you in a math classroom.

The difference is, I want kids to think that there's more

to a math class than just answers.

Today, they were applying the slope formula to a set of stairs and seeing

if they were in compliance with New York City building codes.

Okay, this is the math.

This is how the math connects to the real life, and that was my goal.

>>The thing the kids struggle with is when they don't feel

like they're making progress at school.

And so the more that we can assess them to make them see their progress

that they're making in a way that empowers them,

the better that they do academically, and the more invested they are.

So that's what I go for, is that constant idea of investment

through the assessment process.

>>The relationship between the students

and the teachers is very unique, in that it's like a team,

where you both are striving to learn the truth

about whatever subject you're learning about,

and instead of other schools, where sometimes it's like,

the teacher's just telling the student what to do

and the student is just obeying, it's a very collaborative environment.

>>I would say most certainly, the teachers are more invested

in the thing that they do because it's theirs.

You know, they have a lot of pride in their craftsmanship,

a lot of pride in their craft, that

>>they definitely bring to the table,

and I feel like it definitely allows them to express themselves better,

making them stronger teachers.

>>We're really looking at assessments to say, we don't wanna be deluded by,

"Well, it looks great in the classes and the kids look

like they're getting along and they're raising their hand

and they look like they have a pen in their hand

and they're saying things."

And so we use assessments to really hold our feet to the fire

to make sure that our kids are really making the progress

that they need to make.

>>You can really teach effectively,

'cause you're really thinking like, "Who is in front of me?

What do you need?"

which I think is the way that kids feel valued, 'cause they know

that they're working on something that they need to work on,

and they appreciate you for it.