- Thursday, 24 January 2019
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - CB06.03.022
The Future Lives of Learners Conference well be held on 31 January at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, and will host 650 teachers and principals in the ACT. I have been invited as one of two keynote speakers. My invitation was based on a UTS contract research project with schools I did for the ACT Education Directorate, with a report submitted December 2018.
The presentation on 24 January is a practice run with feedback encouraged.
Keynote preview
Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk Do Schools Kill Creativity? had 50 million views registered on YouTube (March 2018). I think somebody needs to answer the question! I believe that schools do not kill creativity or other important capabilities for the future lives of learners…but assessment can.
In this keynote, hear a powerful rationale for assessment change from Emeritus Professor David Boud, discover a framework for assessment that transcends all 21st Century Skills lists (including ACARA general capabilities) and get an introduction to criteria-based software helping NSW and ACT schools to integrate capability assessment.
Background
Assessment that produces a single mark or grade as feedback on students’ progress and abilities is clearly lacking when capability development becomes an educational focus. The use of visual feedback and analysis of skills assessment is possible using the REVIEW software system as it retains the diversity of aspects of a student’s performance using marking criteria linked to meta-categories of capabilities. Teachers are also able to tag criteria and tasks to Key Learning Area outcomes.
The use of an assessment tool as the key driver requires the refocusing of staff and student attention away from marks and towards the development of knowledge literacies, conceptual frameworks, and a broad range of personal qualities and skills. These are often referred to as 21st Century Skills, General Capabilities or Graduate Attributes, for which there is a numerous array promulgated by businesses, governments and educational institutions. However, the capability categories suggested are closely related to Howard Gardner’s seminal book ‘5 Minds for the Future’ and based on evidence from implementations researched at university level. Categorised and colour-coded student progress data is gathered through the day-to-day criterion-referenced marking of assignments and exams.