Reflection #19

(1) Describe the Resource / Experience:
I gained a lot of insight last week while completing my duties as the quiz builder for chapter 5 of our WikiText entitled “Constructivism and the Individual Learners’ Responsibilities and Leadership” and through reading and taking the quiz for chapter 7 entitled “Assessment in the Constructivist Classroom”. I designed my quiz before reading this chapter, but after reading more about constructivist-oriented assessment tools/questions, I think I could have designed some better, more thought-provoking quiz questions for chapter 5 had I read chapter 7 before designing the quiz.
(2) Lessons Learned / Applications for the Classroom / Recommendations for Yourself or Others:
These experiences have prompted me to examine the ways I assess my students in my own personal classroom. After reading chapter 7 of our WikiText, I have come to believe that constructivist-oriented assessments are the most effective and/or valid way to assess students’ learning. I learned from chapter 7 that constructivist-oriented assessments are not only concerned with students getting the “right” answers, but they are also equally concerned about the students’ thinking processes and how they arrived at that answer. I also learned that constructivist-oriented assessments encourage students to think “beyond the text” and elaborate on their answers. Inferring and elaborating upon answers require students to utilize a higher order thinking process and I believe students who are able to do these things to answer constructivist-oriented questions thoroughly demonstrate their competency at the task at hand.
(3) Links to Readings, Resources, or Discussions:
These ideas directly relate to the ideas expressed in chapter 7 of our WikiText, entitled “Assessment in the Constructivist Classroom”.