2018 Breakout Sessions
Assessing Reading in the Primary Grades – A Conversation between the Child, the Book, and YOU
Jackie Clarke and Damian Cooper
In this session, Damian and Jackie will focus on the importance of observational and conversational assessment practices and how to seamlessly integrate technology in this process. Jackie Clarke will share her learning journey in assessing students’ reading using simple technology sources, such as a smartphone and a laptop computer, to assist in validating her assessment and to help students build their self-regulation skills. Come learn from her ‘ups and downs’ in the world of children’s literacy and join the conversation to discuss how we can best support our students and our assessment practices with technology.
Jackie Clarke is a teacher at Oodenawi Public School, Halton District School Board, Ontario
Damian Cooper, a CAfLN co-founder, is an independent consultant with Plan Teach Assess
Communicating Clear Learning - A BC Perspective
Brooke Moore and Justin Green
This session will engage participants in thinking about the various ways of communicating learning; at the beginning and through the learning process, and ultimately reporting this learning in meaningful and creative ways.
During the session Brooke will share examples from Delta showing how teachers are using, creating, and sharing clear learning targets and success criteria from Grades K-12. She’ll share how the District is explicitly focusing on this innovation in a very unorthodox way and how it has spread across the District in unexpected ways.
Justin will then focus on how this intentional step in the learning process leads to incredibly authentic and meaningful reporting to parents. He’ll share how the concept of Student Voice has been incorporated into the learning process and formalized in Communicating Student Learning to parents.
Brooke Moore is Delta School District's District Principal of Inquiry and Innovation. As part of her role, Brooke co-leads a collaborative teacher inquiry initiative called the "Coordinators of Inquiry" which supports teacher leaders in their work with colleagues using a collaborative inquiry cycle.
Justin Green is Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ District Coordinator of Assessment, a Grade 3-4 Classroom Teacher, and currently the Vice-President for the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association. Justin is also the Resources Chair for the CAfLN. In all of his roles, Justin looks to build capacity with respect to Assessment for, as, and of Learning.
Levelling Up: Harnessing the Power of Digital Formative Assessment Tools
Erin Dunn-Keefe and Denise Dodge Baker
Have you ever observed a child absorbed for hours in a video game? Is it a waste of time or a window into how 21st century learners engage in self-assessment, peer collaboration and grit in order to level up? If that's the case, is there a way to harness some of the features of these games to level up student learning? Check out this session to learn how digital tools like Quizlet, Showbie and others can help students to self-assess, evaluate their learning, capture their thinking, collaborate and share with you, the teacher. Participants are encouraged to bring a device.
Erin Dunn-Keefe is an Instructional Coach with the South Shore Regional School Board, Nova Scotia
Denise Dodge Baker is the Coordinator of Assessment and Quality Instruction with the South Shore Regional School Board.
Assessment for Learning When Percentage Grades Are Mandated
Ken O’Connor
The policy requirement for percentage grades in most Canadian provinces makes AfL more difficult but it can be done. In this session ways to assess - and grade - for learning will be provided and discussed.
Ken O’Connor, a CAfLN founding member, is an independent consultant with Assess for Success. A second edition of his book, How to Grade for Learning, was released last fall.
Stories from the Frontier--Creating a Culture of Learning, an Independent School's Perspective
John Kerr and Bryan Williams
This session will aim to trace and relate our experiences as we continue to transition from a high school grading environment to a learner centred space, from classrooms that focus on percentage grades and summative assessments, to a model that promotes the importance of formative assessment and the role it can play in shaping student learning and understanding. We will aim to share our story and some of our practices, tips, and insights as our journey continues to evolve. Discussions will draw on our work with visible thinking strategies, cross-curricular teaching, and moving stakeholders from a place steeped in tradition to a place of best practice.
John Kerr and Bryan Williams are teachers at Balmoral Hall in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Superintendents in Focus: Charting a Course for AfL and Building on Success
Geoff Cainen
This session will feature a moderated panel discussion with three superintendents. Topics to be explored will include challenges and successes with implementation of AfL, a review of what AfL means for student success and the importance of assessment literacy.
Geoff Kainen is the retired superintendent of the South Shore Regional School Board in Nova Scotia