Using Checklists in A Rubrics World (of PBL)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/national_museum_of_australia/

    Right up front I want to tell everyone that this idea was not originally mine.  And, even though my co-teacher championed this approach and convinced me to do this it is not his original thought either.  But, if I want to give credit to anyone I will give him credit for encouraging me to consider using checklists for our projects.

     So,what is the difference between a rubric and a checklist?  In simple terms a rubric is open ended and gives the criteria that must be met and will, usually, give levels of performance that are expected.  A checklist is just a listing of the criteria.  This allows students, teachers, or parents to know that the criteria has or has not been met.  

     How do we create our checklist?  We start with the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Standards, the 12 step design process, and our school's learning outcomes.  We teach PLTW's Introduction to Engineering Design or IED.  The fundamental approach to everything our students do is related to the 12 step design process.  And, every project will have these 12 steps that must be met during the duration of the project.  It should be noted that during the first couple of projects we were still introducing what each of these 12 steps looked like.  Therefore we only covered those steps that have been explained.  For the first time this year our current project will cover all of the 12 steps.

     The next ingredient for our checklist is our learning outcomes.  In each of the New Tech Network schools we create our learning outcomes that originate from a list of 21st Century Skills.  Everything we do is graded using one or more of these outcomes.  Our school uses nine learning outcomes.  These learning outcomes are Written Communication, Oral Communication, Critical Thinking, Numeracy, Technology Literacy, Global and Community Engagement, Collaboration, Work Ethic, and our Engineering Content.

    We take these two areas and create a spreadsheet that we can alter for each project based upon specific skills that we want our students to have that demonstrate mastery.  Here is a checklist that is being created for our current project:

     You will notice that not every item has a graded criteria.   Some of the design steps don't go well with every learning outcome.  That is why we, as a school, have stated that we will cover every learning outcome at least 3 times for every 6 weeks grading period.

     Now one of the first things we remind students to do each day is to see where in this checklist they are and what they still have left to do.  We keep our schedule sequential so the students know what step they are working on each day.  Then they just need to see how they will be assessed for each of the appropriate learning outcomes.

      To give our students a chance to improve their grades we have also grouped our checklist in groups of 4 Design Steps.  They will complete informal presentations of the 4 steps in each group and they will be graded at that time on all of the learning outcomes within that group.  During the next grouping they have the ability to improve their grades by making corrections to any of the learning outcomes that they did not demonstrate mastery of in the previous grouping. Then, when all steps are complete, there is a formal presentation and the grades are locked in.

     A final difference that we are trying this year is the idea of a mastery grade.  If the student is only partially right on the initial time of assessment but the student takes time to correct any deficiencies by the time the project is complete we give them a zero or a 50% with the knowledge that that grade can come up to a passing final grade.   This is helped by the fact that our students keep all of their work on a Google Site (part of our Google Apps Suite).  As long as they ask us to regrade any of the 12 steps of the design process we will look at the improvements.  The one caveat is that this request must be submitted prior to the formal presentation of their project.

     My initial thoughts on this new process is that the students are understanding what it is that they need to complete to be successful in the class.  They seem to be doing better, as a class, than in the past.  There will always be students who do all that is required and will seek out extra material and we can guide them in that direction.  But the weaker students are getting more accomplished and the overall knowledge level seems better than in previous years.

Frustrations of Creating An Edcamp

brisbanetimes.com.au

     I debated waiting to see how the edcamp went and then creating a post that is a reflection/lessons learned style post.  However, I think it is more poignant to let my emotions be current as I discuss frustrations with my handling of this edcamp.

     As of today, Edcamp Manor is 20 days away.  I have nearly 30 people signed up.  I have a t-shirt company ready to do as many as 200 t-shirts.  I have several food vendors who are awaiting my numbers so that the food can be ordered.  I have notified over 100 teachers in our Think Forward Ning group.  I have tweeted to the 1500 or so on my twitter list.  I have put up notices on my Facebook page and on the Ecamp Manor Facebook page.

     Still, as I said in the first sentence of the last paragraph, I have less than 30 people signed up.  I have even enlisted our National Honor Society to help on the day of the edcamp as reception desk people, runners, and help desk people for each of the classrooms.  I have discussed having one room set up to webcast with a student running the set up.

     I have less than 30 people signed up so far.  The great people at Simple K12.com  have put together a how-to manual on doing an edcamp.  It came out this week.  I downloaded it and read through it.  I have done EVERYTHING that they suggest.  But, .....

     I have less than 30 people signed up.

     But everyone, EVERYONE, has told me it will be ok.  People will show up.  Because it's free people don't feel compelled to sign up early.  Because it's free people don't feel compelled to show up on the day, because - it's free.  My best teacher friend has been helping me and encouraging me.  Even she said, "it's on a Saturday.  You and I are the only Ed Geeks willing to give up a Saturday for an edcamp."

     The teachers in our school district aren't committing.  I have 1, one, teacher signed up to attend from my school.  And she might not be able to come but she wanted to sign up so I could have a good head count.  None of the other 200 or so teachers in our district have signed up.  Yet, I have teachers coming from North Texas, from South Texas, and from East Texas.  

     The only common thread here is me.  There is no planning committee to blame.  It's just me.  And that's part of the problem.  If I were a Principal I could make my teachers attend by coercion, if nothing else.  And that just makes me more upset.  Teachers shouldn't have to be coerced to attend a day of learning.   Teachers should take the day and embrace it.  Those who are really good at something, such as classroom management or technology, should be anxious to share their knowledge.  Those who want to improve their skills should be demanding topics to be discussed.

    I have done my part.  I will have a tweetup the night before with any and all of the people coming from out of town.  I will get together afterward with whomever wants to do that.  I will have fun and, though deeply embarrassed by the numbers, I will be a good host to my guests so that they have fun too.

    My final thought here is this:  "Thank you Steve Zipkes for being a major sponsor.  Without you I would have cancelled the edcamp due to a lack of interest from all teachers in the State of Texas."