Domain 3
Domain Expectation
3.t
The candidate makes
appropriate use of educational technology to evaluate student
learning and make curricular and instructional decisions in
order to create a successful learning environment
Introduction
This domain addresses the need for educators to analyze a variety of assessments and to use the information to guide curriculum and instructional changes.
Title
School Improvement Plan
Student Journals
Semester Final Exam
Exhibit Explanation
The North Newton School Improvement Plan uses grades, I-STEP
and NWEA test results. The results of the analzsis of these
items led to the writing of the school improvement goals and
action steps. One of the goals was to improve writing across
the curriculum. Two of the action steps that were developed
for this goal were to use journals and "real life"
situations in work. One portion of the semester final will require
that the students write a journal in class.
Rationale
As chair of the committee that assembled the plan, I spent many hours graphing and analyzing student scores and other data. From the research that was done into best practices for improving writing skills, the action steps were developed. The student journals in my classes and the changes that took place in the topics, grading and the use of a composition notebook for those journals was a direct result of the work done on the improvement plan. The journal writing has also been incorporated as a performance assessment on the semester exam.
Self-Evaluation and Reflection
The journals enable both myself and the student to look at a history of their writing throughout the year. Their scores are based on individual problems. Once a mistake has been addressed in grading and explination additional occurances of that same error result in more points being deducted. The system has worked well and students do see where they have improved. This system is good and it will remain a part of the curriculum.
How Observed and/or Verified
Student journals and exams
Validation of Student Learning
The students have shown improved writing abilities from the beginning of the year. This is evidenced through the semester writing scores and evaluation notes.
Exhibit
Please click link to go to the exhibit.
Please click the link to go to the evaluation form for
