Assessment – Page 14 – Embrace the Absurd

Is It Still The Same Boat?

You pick up a lot as you journey through life; and you never know what will be valuable and what will be worthless. Never in a million years would I have guessed when I signed up for an introductory philosophy course my final semester in college that I would encounter a thought experiment that wouldContinue reading “Is It Still The Same Boat?”

What’s Happened, Happened

Spoiler and content warning: This post includes details from the film Tenet and a discussion of the future of large-scale testing which may upset the reader or spoil the movie if you have not seen it. The Armageddon and the Apocalypse are not for the faint of heart. I am not a movie guy byContinue reading “What’s Happened, Happened”

Nothing New Under the Sun

You may view state testing as a monolith, an impersonal political, corporate structure indivisible and uniform, a large single upright block of stone with columns of ovals etched on it and a Pearson logo laser engraved in the bottom left corner. But you would be wrong. The block of stone could just as easily bearContinue reading “Nothing New Under the Sun”

Shove Those Deficits Up Your Assets

I have seen the light! Praise be the ivory tower, I have seen the light! Enough already with talk of learning loss, achievement gaps, and labels like substantially below proficient. Cast off the cloak of deficits and wrap yourself in the warmth of potential and growth. I confess that it took me too long toContinue reading “Shove Those Deficits Up Your Assets”

It’s Time, for a Change

As we approach the one-year anniversary of watching Americans struggle to read graphs, interpret data, and cope with the harsh reality that even the tiniest percentage of a very large number is still too many individual stories, there may have never been a time when there was such universal agreement that it’s time for aContinue reading “It’s Time, for a Change”

Emma and Allie

A story of Learning, Loss, and Middle School Life This is the story of two girls, Emma and Allie. They met on the softball team in the spring of third grade. They became fast friends. Even though they just met, it was like they had known each other their entire lives. Over the next fewContinue reading “Emma and Allie”

All Aboard!

When the recovery train leaves the station will we be ready to hop on board Throughout this month I have stressed the importance that planning will play in the recovery from the impact of the pandemic on student learning. What does that planning look like? What should be considered? And what role do large-scale stateContinue reading “All Aboard!”

Seeking Comparability in an Incomparable Year

The past year has been a year like no other. We experienced a summer like no other, a World Series like no other, an election like no other, followed by a Thanksgiving, Christmas, Presidential Inauguration, and Super Bowl like no other. How can we possibly expect to produce comparable state test results in this schoolContinue reading “Seeking Comparability in an Incomparable Year”

On The Road Again

K-12 education and the road to recovery K-12 education is about to head out on the road again. This time it’s the road to recovery from the pandemic. As I think about K-12 education starting this journey, I can’t help but make the connection to a journey of my own that took place 50 yearsContinue reading “On The Road Again”

Ninety-five Theses on State Testing

“Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute withContinue reading “Ninety-five Theses on State Testing”