CYCLES OF LEARNING
  • BLOG
  • TED
  • BOOK
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTACT

When curiosity is sparked...

deep cycles of learning can occur.

Simple Metacognitive Assessment Hack During Distance Learning

6/27/2020

 
As the summer approached I became more and more conflicted as to how to assess my students. Many options existed including timed, self grading quizzes in Google Forms, video assessments via FlipGrid, etc. To simplify things, I elected to use a Google Doc template for all assessments where students completed responses and calculations and then shared the doc with me for assessment.

Inherent to the above process was TRUSTING that students would do the work individually, without notes or text, given that no systems existed within the technology I was using to ensure individual work. Moreover, the thought of doing live assessments over Zoom where I could see students working via web cam did not sit well with me. That being said, I still had a hunch, that some student answers, primarily questions that were algorithmic in nature (Stoichiometry, etc.), were not authentic. 

During the last few weeks of distance learning, I created new format/template for all calculation-based questions that, in addition to requiring a correct numerical answer, also involved reflection in a such a way that could not be "Googled", forcing students to reflect on their understanding of the process they employed to arrive at their answer AND a conceptual explanation of the phenomena at hand. Essentially, I was trying to create a meaningful format for assessing in the distance learning setting driven by the question structure NOT the technology. 

Below is an example of an initial question, and then a modified version that incorporates a second meta-reflection piece to assess for potential (for a lack of better word) "cheating" in the distance learning setting: 

Initial Question Example
  • What volume, in L, does 100 grams of carbon dioxide occupy at 25 degrees Celsius and 1 atm of pressure? 

Modified Question Example
  1. What volume, in L, does 100 grams of carbon dioxide occupy at 25 degrees Celsius and 1 atm of pressure?
  2. In order to arrive at my answer I needed to [describe equations or processes used]. To arrive at my answer I needed to convert [describe any unit conversions], because [explain logic behind any unit conversions]. When arriving at my answer I struggled to [describe what problems you had]. My answer means that [describe the conceptual meaning behind your numerical answer]. 

The template used in the modified question above can be layered on top of any calculation in my chemistry class. With respect to grading, I chose to award 1 pt for the correct answer to #1 in the modified version, and 4 points for the meta-reflection piece. One point for each answer within the template. 

The modified process accomplished two things: First, it added an assessment where, even if the calculation portion was one gathered via a system such a Wolfram Alpha, etc. (see example solution to above problem here), students would be forced to reflect on their process, something that could not be generated online. Second, by allocating more points to the reflection process, a message was sent that I valued that process more than the calculation, setting a precedent that I hope to carry into the face-to-face instruction...whenever that resumes.

Full disclosure: The modified version is MUCH harder to grade. So yeah, there's that :). The cognitive dissonance behind using the assessment as a learning tool. Never easy.  

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Ramsey Musallam is a full-time science teacher in Santa Rosa California.
    Starter Pack

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    3-Bullet Thursdays
    5E
    5E/Hero's Journey
    AI
    Apple Tv
    Arduino
    Assessment
    Assistive Technology
    Biochemistry
    Biology
    CAD
    ChatGPT
    Chemistry
    Clips
    Coding
    Cognition
    Commencement
    Commentary
    Computer Science
    Consulting
    Courses
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Curiosity
    Curriculum
    Design
    Distance Learning
    Engineering
    Feynman
    Flipped Learning
    Friday 5
    Game Design
    Games
    Google
    Hack Series
    Hands On
    Hands-On
    Hero's Journey
    Homework
    Inquiry
    Invention
    Itm
    Lecture
    Maker
    Masterclass
    Megacognition
    Misc.
    Models
    Movies
    Neuroscience
    Online Teaching
    Opioid Crisis
    PBL
    Pd
    Pedagogy
    Physics
    Podcast
    Presentation
    Presentations
    Products
    Programming
    Public
    Reflection
    Research
    Robotics
    Rubrics
    Science Camp
    Simulations
    Slides
    Social Good
    STEM
    Store
    Technology
    Tutorials
    Videos
    What If
    Workshop Materials
    Zoom

    Archives

    March 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    March 2022
    January 2022
    August 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    November 2010

  • BLOG
  • TED
  • BOOK
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTACT