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.