Assessment at ISY in a Virtual Learning Context

All assessment practices at ISY are designed to provide a fair and accurate picture of a student’s achievement and progress in relation to the ISY curriculum standards. 

In a virtual learning context, insofar as it is practical, teaching and learning will cover the same content and skills as in a traditional face-to-face classroom setting. However, the unique methodology and challenges of online teaching and learning requires a unique approach to assessment. 

Assessment at ISY in a virtual learning context will be: 

• Fair to students, 
• Strive to develop an accurate picture of what a student is capable of in relation to ISY curriculum standards,
• Compassionate to students and acknowledge the unique challenges that each student faces in a virtual learning context.

It is important for teachers to assess student work and to provide feedback to students so they continue to grow academically. However, ISY teachers acknowledge the fact that teaching and learning virtually might not allow for the development of a fair and accurate picture of what a student is really capable of. ISY teachers are also very aware that circumstances beyond the control of the students may mean that students cannot always complete work to the best of their abilities. 

In assigning final grades to students, ISY teachers will show compassion to students. This means that teachers will consider past academic performance to assign grades. This permits grades to better reflect what a student’s current academic performance would be in a traditional face-to-face classroom setting. In assigning final grades, ISY teachers will also take into account any other circumstance beyond the control of the students that will adversely affect academic performance. 

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

This week’s Wednesday lesson was entitled Courageous Chinthes.  Students were asked to be risk takers, struggle with a task and reflect about their learning journey.  A major theme in the lessons was having a growth mindset.  Growth Mindset comes from a set of research from Stanford University professor Carol Dewick.  Growth mindset influences many attitudes of learning, including how one views feedback, effort and lack of success.  ISY consistently seeks to encourage a growth mindset in our students.  We encourage mistakes as opportunities for learning and seek to set challenging tasks that encourage persistence and hard work.  So how can you recognize if your child has a growth mindset?  Well, an individual with a growth mindset tend to:

• Seek out support and ask questions:  They understand that their own learning can be enhanced by others.  They are not threatened or jealous when others succeed.  Instead they celebrate others’ success as it helps their own learning.

• Be energized by constructive feedback:  They understand that effort and practice brings out higher quality.  They see feedback as opportunities to improve not as criticism. 

• Practice:  People with a growth mindset continue to practice and change strategies even when they have done well.  They don’t stop just because they have found “success” in comparison to others.  They are driven to do their personal best always.

• Admit their mistakes:  Those with a growth mindset know that mistakes are needed to improve.  They don’t feel a need to hide or cover up mistakes because they understand that mistakes are proof of learning not proof of inability.

It must be stated that individuals are unique and varied.  One might have a growth mindset in one area and then to have a fixed mindset in another area.  For example a person might have a growth mindset regarding math but a fixed mindset regarding art.  This is not uncommon and but often a parent can see themes in their child’s learning attitudes.  We hope in your observations and work with your child during virtual learning you have seen the qualities of a growth mindset, but if not, don’t fret it is possible to change one’s mindset.   Supporting your child when challenged, providing helpful feedback and demonstrating failure can all support your child toward a growth mindset.  If you’d like to learn more about growth mindset or have other concerns, Ms. Patty is available through email to support your family.   escounselor@isyedu.org 

RESOURCES:

Mindset: A New Psychology of Success, Dewick C. 2007

Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck 

Visual: Brilliant Now Hero’s Journey Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset (2) – Be Brilliant Now

Virtual Learning

Below you can see some of the pictures from our Global Citizens, Virtual Wednesday.

‘BALANCING AN EGG’ FEEDBACK

Hi Ms.Patty

I managed to get my egg to stand up twice without the salt trick. I felt very motivated to make the egg balance. I got everyone in my family to try. My mom was the first to get it to balance and she got it on her first try. I was very proud when I got it and I felt even better when I did it a second time.

Shanne

Dear Ms Patty

I balanced an egg!

Reeya

Hi Ms. Patty,

when I did it I was thinking

– what am I doing wrong?

– how do I do this?

I liked it when I got the salt out and it worked.

From Eleaor

Ben and Jacob:  We tried and tried. We ate chocolate eggs. We broke one on the floor. We tried tape. We thought it was impossible. But we kept trying and we finally got one to stand. How?  We got down to the egg’s level, let the yoke settle, calmed down and became one with the egg!  And it worked!

When I told my mom that I was doing a challenge with the egg, she said there was a trick to it and she told me. So I put salt on the flat surface and balanced my egg after a few tries it worked. But then I wanted to do it without salt but never managed.

Julien

Hi Ms Patty,

Hope you are doing well. I just did the egg challenge. I had to use gloves because have egg allergies but it was a lot of fun and it worked. I never thought it could work but it did. Stay safe stay home.

From Emma

Hi Ms. Patty,

I actually tried to balance an egg for an hour and in the process, cracked two eggs. I did it because I was like “Well, I have nothing else to do, so why not?” 

Brian

Dear Ms.Patty,

What happened was I could balance a egg!!

My strategy was to put play doh on the a flat surface then put the egg on top.

What I was thinking that I can do this.

Maanya

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