Mod 6 - Innovative Teaching Approaches

Choose one or more of the following learning environments to investigate:

Problem-Based Learning Capacity Building Series Monograph
Reflect on how you could assess student learning and achievement in this
environment.

The article I read was about Problem-Based Learning. The key with Problem-based learning is
that it’s a collaborative and exploratory learning environment where students are engaged in
learning based on finding a solution to an open-ended question. PBL is multi-disciplinary and
incorporates many different curriculum expectations. Since PBL is a very collaborative,
ambiguous, and less-regimented learning style, it lends itself well to assessment AS and FOR
learning, and many opportunities for observations and conversations. One issue identified in
the reading is that the freedom and breadth of the projects means that teachers need to
carefully scaffold learning and there should be a gradual release of responsibility, especially with
younger students that are less familiar with PBL. As such, having a specific timeline with due
dates for pieces of the project is important. Rather than having the whole project due at the
end, it should be scaffolded so that students are generating a inquiry question, brainstorming,
gathering evidence and planning, which can be collected and assessed as assessment FOR
learning. Next students can draft an initial plan, blueprints for a design (if applicable), etc. and
assessed FOR learning or OF learning. Students can then conduct several assessments AS
learning by reflecting on their own group’s project or another group’s project throughout the
process. In the final stages students would submit their completed project, presentation,
models, etc for assessment OF learning. There is also more opportunity at this point for
students to reflect on each their own or each others’ work in assessment AS learning.