Some Brainstorming

I've got my iced coffee. A fuzzy blanket. And two sleepy kitties. Time to get some work done. 

Over the last few weeks I have been trying to pin down what this year is going to look like. The biggest lesson I've learned in this personalized learning journey has been that each year gets a new batch of tweaks and shifts. And so I've been tackling some of those changes. (My school is also moving to block scheduling, so adjustments are needed).

I described my previous method here, in terms of the progression of learning, but now I am excited to tackle a new approach I am calling my 5 Artifact Method. Essentially, students have five possible artifacts. Depending on how many they submit and the skill demonstrated, they earn a different percentage.

Below is an illustration I made to help the kids (and you) understand). For each standard, they will (ideally) do a full cycle.

Because I still teach in a traditional grading system (Quarterly Grades, Percentages), I have spent the last few years trying to marry standards based grading with that format. In this last year, I moved to using a conversion chart.

However, I quickly learned that my conversion chart was flawed. Students could get an A by doing "just enough." It also left many of them borderline when grades had to be reported. So I sat down to rethink what this conversion will look like with the 5 Artifact Method.

Here is my draft...

The hardest part about creating one of these conversion charts is that I won't know it isn't working until... it isn't. Now, usually, I have no problem making shifts and changes based on feedback from the kids, but when it comes to grades, I feel a lot of pressure to be consistent throughout the year.

So I'm posting it here. Perhaps someone else can see the problems I am not. (And I'd appreciate if you pass them on).

Sincerely, Cwik.