Lesson 12: Evaluating Student Learning

This week in class we talked about ways to evaluate student learning. We talked about a variety of accommodations to make for students.
Before the test:

• Study guides can help students prepare to know what will be on the test and study what to learn. 
• Practice tests are also a good way for students to practice taking a test with the same material that will be on the real test. 
• Teach students test taking skills such as; chunking, mnemonics, Chrome strategy, key word method, Answer strategy for essay writing.  ( Chrome = C- categorization H- Hypothesis R-reasoning O-observation M-measurement E-experimentation) 

Accommodation during a test:

• Alternative forms of questions
• alternative ways of administering the test
• alternative test site 

Accommodations after the test:

• changing letter or number grades
• grading rubrics
• grading criteria
• alternatives letter and number grades

Other ideas to help grading students items or tests are:

• differentiated report cards
• daily activity logs
• separate grades
• avoid giving zeros 
• report students progress more frequently

To help individualized grading for students with disabilities some tips we talked about that I really liked were:

• Use standard-based grades 
• Basing all or part of the grade on progress on IEP objectives

This week was important to learn about a variety of accommodations we can use in our future classroom for students to help them succeed the best they can. This week we didn't have a case study to ponder but I was able to complete another simulation activity. At the beginning of the week before the snow hit I was able to complete the activity of being in a wheel chair. I was in the wheel chair for just over 2 and a half hours. There was a series of tasks we had to complete while we did this project. I struggled with pretty much all of tasks. 

1. Go to the restroom, enter a stall, and transfer your body from the wheelchair to the toilet. Reverse the process and return to the wheelchair. -Out of all the tasks this was the hardest for me to do. I almost fell while I was transferring my body onto the toilet seat. I can't imagine having to do this every time you went to the bathroom. Another problem I encountered while completing this task was waiting for the larger stall to open. I can see how there may need to be more than one large stall, otherwise you would have to wait for a long time. 
2. Get a drink from the drinking fountain.-This part wasn't too bad, I just had to go at the fountain with the right angle. I can see how if the drinking fountain was different heights then it might make things really complicated. I also had to push myself up a little in order to get a drink, I can see how your arms would get really strong from doing this. 
3. Go to another building and ask for directions/assistance (e.g., Kimball Building information desk (on campus) or another information desk).- I found it really interesting because I got a lot of sympathy while I was doing this. I went to the Kimball to ask a question about graduation applications and what office I should go to. The lady at the counter was young and she was really willing to help me. She gave me a big smile while she was helping me and asked if I needed help finding the office. I declined and said I would find it on my own. 
4. Ride an elevator. - This part of the simulation was actually fun, and I ended up doing it more than just once. When I was trying to get to my class I had to take the elevator because I was struggling pushing myself up any hills. I found it tricky to wheel myself right next to press the button, some elevators are easier to get around in because they are bigger but others feel so crammed. 
5. Go up and down a hill by yourself. -I will admit I was not very good at this part. My arms were so sore by the time I attempted to do this. I went down the hill pretty fast and I wasn't the best at stopping myself but going up the hill took a lot of muscle. I also had people ask if I needed some help, I told them I was fine and several of them watched as I attempted up the hill. This really made me think more about the paths I would use to get around. 
6. Go through an exterior public door without using the door opener. 
7. Go through an exterior public door using the door opener. -These two were pretty similar so I am writing about them together. HOLY COW it is almost impossible to open a door without an opener. I was struggling so bad and then someone came to open it for me, I didn't even stop them because I knew I couldn't get it all myself. The door openers make things so much easier and I was so happy that most doors have them. That is one of the little things I never would have even thought about before doing this experience. 
8. Ask for assistance to navigate a tough spot. -I asked my husband to help me when we were crossing the road. This was tough because I really didn't want to get hit by a chair if I wasn't pushing fast enough. 

Overall this assignment really gave me an appreciation for what it is like for people with a divisibility to get around every day. There are so many obstacles they face that I wouldn't even think twice about. I was glad I had my husband with me sometimes to help me when i struggled, those people have to be pretty independent to do all the things that they do. I was able to borrow my grandma's wheel chair to do this assignment and it worked out nicely. I felt a greater sympathy for her and what she has to go through every day to just get around.