The document discusses the changing landscape of education, emphasizing the need for skills and competencies over traditional factual knowledge. It highlights the negative impact of letter grades on student motivation and engagement and proposes alternative assessment methods. Additionally, it explores language evolution and the importance of contextual learning in fostering student interest.

1. RETHINKING STUDENT
LEARNING
and
COMMUNICATING STUDENT
LEARNING TO PARENTS

3. How many countries in the world?
• 1900: 53
• Today: 196
South Sudan– formed in 2011

4. How many words in the
English Language?
• Changes EVERY year.
• Expanding by 8,500 words per year

5. Obsolete or New?
• GROAK:
• OBSOLETE
• To silently watch someone while they are
eating, hoping to be invited to join them.

6. Obsolete or New?
• OMNISHAMBLES:
• NEW
• A situation that has been comprehensively
mismanaged, characterized by a string of
blunder and miscalculations.

7. Obsolete or New?
• APRICITY:
• OBSOLETE
• The sun’s warmth on a cold winter’s day.

8. Obsolete or New?
• HUGGER MUGGER:
• OBSOLETE
• To act in a secretive manner.

9. Obsolete or New?
• SQUEE:
• NEW
• Used to express great excitement.

10. FACT:
• Rate of CHANGE
• Students don’t need more FACTS,
they need SKILLS AND
COMPETENCIES that will allow
them to succeed.

11. Slide by Bill Ferriter
The Tempered Radical
blog.williamferriter.com
@plugusin

12. BC’s New Curriculum
SKILLS and COMPETENCIES
Creative and Critical Thinking
Communication
Positive personal and cultural identity
Personal and Social awareness and
responsibility
OUTCOMES
Example: Grade 4 Math
15 Concepts – Down from 24 Learning
Outcomes

13. SUMMATIVE
Measure
Public/Parent/Student
%
#
Symbol
FORMATIVE
Purpose
Improve Learning
Audience
Student
Form
Descriptive
Event
Timing
Minute-by-Minute
Day-by-Day
Judge
Role
Coach

14. Activity:
• In groups, discuss the following problem. Record
your thinking on the whiteboards. Be prepared to
share your thinking.
• You would like to make a garden in your back yard.
You have enough material to make a border around
your garden that is 24 metres in length. How many
ways can you design your garden? Which is the best
design? Why?

15. Performance Standard

16. Letter Grades:
• Do Not inform learning.
• Tend to reduce students’ interest
in the learning itself.
• Tend to reduce students’
preference for challenging tasks.
• Tend to reduce the quality of
students’ thinking. (Kohn, 1999)

22. MYTH: If we don’t give letter grades,
students will not be motivated or engaged.
Slide by Bill Ferriter
The Tempered Radical
blog.williamferriter.com
@plugusin

23. Is There Another Way? …Wikiseat
Some of the best instances of STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
has been when students were not given traditional
grades but rather when they were completely focused
on their learning. Here are some examples…

24. Is There Another Way? … KIVA

25. Is There Another Way?

26. Questions?