This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
My Evaluations......
I truly feel my evaluations reflect my personal values, because they are relational and significant and that is the way I try to teach all my classes. When I evaluate my students it is to measure how they digested the material presented to them by me. This maybe in various forms such as reflective writing, practical form, short quizes and or oral presentations. This personalizes the evaluation to each student at one time or another. Over time I can identify the students strengths and also try to help them grow in their deficiencies. I also want my evaluations to be significant not to "catch the student", but to make sure they are learning. Such as evaluating what was taught and or demonstrated, not something they should have read and wanting to make sure they are doing their work. I am not a busy work type of teachers or a home work just to do home work type of teacher. I want the students going home and talking about what they have learned and recalling it the next 2 years when we meet again in the 2nd and 3rd levels that are offered. I also try to be fair and know that there is an error margin built in for the students because that is how I teach fair and equal to all types of learners. This goes with my load capacity theory. We teach s-10 pick ups, dually extended cab pick ups and or dump truck. All 3 want to carry the same load, but each one can only carry a certain amount before we shut them down. It is our job to identify what type of truck we are teaching, load it properly (not to little, but not to much either) and watch it run and carry the load efficiently.
Coach,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your methods of evaluation. I graduated with my Associates degree in Culinary Arts with a 3.9 GPA but yet could do little more than recite the textbook. I knew the material but never really understood it. Because of learning (and being taught) this way, I struggled at first when working in a kitchen. When I went back to get my Bachelors degree, I learned so differently. I didn't care if I got an "A", I just wanted to understand the material. I realized that I could make a "B" or "C" and actually know more than people with an "A". I see students all the time just trying to get the "A" because they want it for their GPA and could care less if they actually learn anything. It is our job to take the stress out of getting the grade and focus more on teaching the material.
I think that it is more difficult for the teacher to evaluate this way because there is not a definite answer written on paper that we can take home and grade. The evaluations are more subjective even with a rubric but we understand that there is room for error and can offer extra credit or something to make it up.
I also like your analogy with the trucks!
I like what you have written here Coach. I especially like the part about retention. I may not operate the same way you do (though I don't give homework either), but I believe we are looking for the same results. We both want to have students that not only learn the information we are giving them, but retain it for use in the future. Good luck.
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ReplyDeleteKeep on truckin', ya'll!
ReplyDeleteDr. M