New Horizons for Learning Online Journal
Vol. X No. 2, Spring 2004

From the Editor
Dee Dickinson

Most educators would agree that the main advantages of assessment are (1) to inform teachers about how and what their students are learning and (2) to give students specific information about what they are doing well/or for what specific reasons their work is not up to standard. Such information is essential for both teachers and students, but it is difficult to gain from the plethora of standardized, tests most of which are focused primarily on memorization and recall and with either no feedback or feedback so late that it is no longer useful for improving teaching and learning.

Most teachers, however, make regular use of teacher-made assessments that are not only informative, but are tools for learning. They reveal not only whether students have learned skills and information, but whether they have understood and can apply what they have learned. If they are planned to do so, they may also show whether students are developing the ability not only to think analytically, but also practically and creatively. (For research and useful suggestions, see Robert Sternberg's new book, Wisdom, Intelligence, and Creativity Synthesized.)

What are the characteristics of useful assessment? How does such assessment affect teacher practice and student learning? How can assessment be sensitive to students from different cultures and students who have different ways of learning? Can educators continue to include the arts and other creative activities and projects in an atmosphere of "high stakes testing?" These are some of the questions this issue of the Journal attempts to address along with other topics related to successful and joyful learning.

The next issue of the Journal in June will focus on out-of-school programs that support learning. We welcome your suggestions for authors, articles, and projects to highlight.

For those of you in Washington State we bring your attention to our summer conference:

Brighten your summer and light up your next school year!
IslandWood and New Horizons for Learning present a residential conference for 4th, 5th and 6th grade teachers at IslandWood on Bainbridge Island on August 6-8. IMPROVING LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS, with emphasis on Math, Language Arts, and Science, will offer powerful tools to use the arts to improve the academic achievement of all students in the basic skills, enhance higher order thinking skills, and facilitate meeting the EALR's. Keynote by John Bransford, UW professor and editor of How People Learn. Further information and registration online at http://www.islandwood.org/specialeventsarts.asp

As always, we look forward to hearing from you about how our website can better serve you. Your questions, suggestions, or comments can be addressed to us at info@newhorizons.org.

One for you:   A child's life is like a piece of paper in which every person leaves a mark.  --Chinese proverb.

And two for the kids:   Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.    --Plato

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.  Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great    --Mark Twain

ARTICLES:

Assessment as Feedback  Grant Wiggins
A renowned expert in the field of assessment defines feedback and its role in assessment and learning.

Assessment Equity in a Multicultural Society    Asa G. Hilliard III-Baffour Amankwatia II
One of America's leading authorities on multicultural education discusses the importance of considering the cultural background of students in assessing their learning.

Introduction to Alternate Assessments    Nancy Arnold
Alternate Assessment Specialist for the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction notes that the academic assessment of students with disabilities is essential and must be done appropriately and sensitively.

Student Led Conferences at the Secondary Level   Karen Dickinson
The director of Curriculum and Instruction of Federal Way Public Schools explains an effective way to engage students and parents in the process of assessment that has useful outcomes for both.

Arts Assessments for Washington State: The Journey in Progress      AnnRené Joseph
The Program Supervisor for the Arts at the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction describes a new arts assessment program to assure the inclusion of the arts as an Essential Academic Learning Requirement in the curriculum K-12.

Learning Celebrations are Authentic Assessments of Student Understanding   Maggie Meyer and Jenna Glock
Two dedicated teachers describe powerful learning experiences and assessment tools based on the multiple intelligences.

How Do We Know Our Students Are Engaged? A Case Study from Plimoth Plantation   Lisa Neal and Kim Van Wormer
Editor in chief of eLearn Magazine describes the museum's online learning center program, showing how the site manages to intrigue young students.

My Experience Using the Multiple Intelligences   Nelly Ribot
An Argentinean teacher describes her successful experiences in applying the theory of multiple intelligences in her classroom.

Taking Stock of Our Future: Program Evaluation and Assessment of Global Issues Education    Kim Rakow Bernier and Gilda Wheeler
Facing the Future, a timely nonprofit organization, develops and distributes global issues curriculum and action opportunities for students and teachers.

Brain Drain: Initiative to Leave No Child Behind Leaves Out Gifted    Daniel Golden
A Wall Street Journal reporter notes that as a result of NCLB, many schools are reallocating resources to focus on low-performing students and away from the gifted and talented.

Interactive Music Strategies for the Academic Curriculum  Michelle Lazar
A gifted musician and teacher describes practical ways to use music as another multi-sensory approach to teaching math, literacy, science, and social studies.

Intercultural Education and Virtual Reality   Judy Bonne and Patrick McKercher
Judy Bonne Kane, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Crawford AuSable Schools and Educational Project Director for the K-Web, and Patrick McKercher, K-Web project manager, give us an update on this project developed by James Burke.

International Public Schools in Seattle   Michele Anciaux Aoki and Sue Ranney
The director for Washington State Coalition for International Education offers an update on the progress of John Stanford International School and Hamilton International Middle School in Seattle, Washington.

The Future of Learning in a New Free World and how to Build a World Wide Learning Web    Gordon Dryden
New Zealand author of the New Learning Revolution notes that millions of teachers and billions of students continue to work mainly in isolation, yet in today's world of instant communication, collaboration is essential in order to make the most effective changes.

Kindergarten Readiness: A Launching Pad for Future Success    Nina Auerbach
CEO of Child Care Resources explains how the care and nurturing a child receives in the early years shapes his or her ability to learn, to relate to others and to be successful.

Trends in School Reform   Michael Silver
The Superintendent of Schools for the Tukwila School District considers standards-based reform, comprehensive school reform and student-centered reform.

Advancement of Science Knowledge In Language Learning ( ASKILL )     John Shaffer and V. A. Lindley-Brunn
Two educational researchers discuss a project that focuses on enhancing English language acquisition at the middle school level by English Language Learners through the study of science.

Education in Search of a Vision (1998)    Bharat Mansata
Inspiring words from an Indian advocate for change.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Click on book title for more information. 

Classroom Management: the Dance of the Dolphin    Mark Kennedy

Accountability for Learning: How Teachers and School Leaders Can Take Charge   Douglas B. Reeves

Diversity and Citizenship Education: Global Perspectives   James A. Banks, ed.

Portfolio Practices: Lessons from Schools Districts, and States    Sandra Murphy and Terry Underwood

Action Research: An Educational Leader's Guide to School Improvement   Jeffrey Glanz

The Parallel Curriculum: A Design to Develop High Potential and Challenge High-Ability Learners   Carol Ann Tomlinson, Sandra N. Kaplan, Joseph S. Renzulli, Jeanne Purcell, Jann Leppien, and Deborah Burns

How to Use Problem-Based Learning in the Classroom Robert Delisle

How to Ask the Right Questions    Patricia E. Blosser

The Key to Success: Developing Emotional Intelligence in Young Children    Gail Kushnir

The Normal One: Life With a Difficult or Damaged Sibling     Jeanne Safer

Tuned In and Fired Up: How Teaching Can Inspire Real Learning in the Classroom   Sam M. Intrator

Retrain Your Business Brain: Outsmart the Corporate Competition    Donalee Markus, with Lindsey Paige Markus, and Pat Taylor

BULLETIN BOARD

Urgent Call for Volunteers
Tom Hoerr, the head of the New City School in St. Louis, MO (where MI has been implemented since 1988) is working on a book about leadership, supervision, and school culture. He is seeking comments from teachers and administrators to both inform his thinking and for inclusion in the book (no names will be used). If you have the interest and time, he would like to hear from you in response to the following questions. You can reach him at trhoerr@newcityschool.org.

Faculty and committee meetings: What drives you crazy about these, what do you find effective? How could they be improved?
Teacher goals: What would make the goal-setting process more effective for you?
Teacher end-of-year evaluations: What thoughts do you have on how these could be more meaningful?
Teacher observations: Can you offer an example of how they are helpful? How would you suggest that they be changed?
What helps you to be creative in designing lessons and planning curriculum? What would you like?
I talk a lot about faculty collegiality, learning with and from others. What thoughts to you have on this? Can you offer any examples?
Any other words of wisdom to share?

Call for Papers
Washington State Association for Multicultural Education's 10th Annual Multicultural Conference
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA •  October 1-2, 2004
Deadline for proposals is April 20th. Questions or further information re: proposals, contact Marcia Migdal at 425-670-7128 or migdalm@edmonds.wednet.edu or Barbara Yasui at 360-657-0219 or Barbara_Yasui@msvl.k12.wa.us.

Youth Community Service Event
Students from around the world are assembling as a production team of an annual multi-function event designed to showcase "healthy & sustainable community ideals" following the guidelines set forth in the Earth Charter. The event will be held in the Olympic National Park area of the Pacific Northwest in the United States, with routes for the Road Rally Function reaching from San Diego to Seattle. To receive more information about the Event and how it can be a powerful and focused driving force to empower a class or individual study path, contact Chuck Medeiros (360) 649-5800 chuck@pcez.com.

American History Grants
 Applications due April 1; grants awarded in May 2004. The National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of Washington is offering grants to history teachers.  Any school teacher or support personnel planning to continue teaching grades 5-12 in Washington state is eligible to apply. 

Council for Exceptional Children 2004 Convention and Expo
New Orleans, LA • April 14-17, 2004

Center for Educational Leadership Summer Institute
Blaine, WA • June 27- July 2, 2004

 

HAVE YOU SEEN? (Related Links)

Annenberg Institute for School Reform

Center for Performance Assessment

Emerging Student Assessment Systems for School Reform

Focus on Accountability

Framework for Educational Accountability

National Center on Educational Outcomes

US Department of Education Publications

Central America Diary by Greg Tuke

Breakthrough High Schools is a unique project featuring schools with high minority, high poverty populations. These schools have demonstrated significant student achievement, as well as high graduation and college admission rates. According to the research, the most successful high schools share three common elements:

Facing the Future: People and the Planet is a non-profit organization that delivers proven global issues and sustainability curriculum and opportunities for community and global action projects to teachers and students throughout the United States and the world.

The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) announces a major redesign and new stories for its award-winning website, publishing documentary films, articles, and multimedia features about the nation's most innovative schools.

Historica's YouthLinks Program is aimed at high school and CEGEP students (and their teachers) in Canada and around the world. This collaborative on-line learning program offers, in French and in English, teaching modules with content and activities that can be done on-line and in class. Taking part in YouthLinks is entirely free.

WildTech's new program aims to provide refurbished Pentium-II computers to every low-income household with a K-12 student in Washington State. The project works as follows: The WTA's Redmond office serves as a central hub, receiving surplus computers donated by Puget Sound area corporations. College students and volunteers gain valuable job experience serving in internships and managing this hub. They refurbish half of the donated computers and provide them to low-income families within the Puget Sound region. WorkSource, HeadStart, and other social service agencies determine the recipients. The program also includes a three-hour training class. Advanced students serve as classroom teachers and community technology support specialists. The other half of the donated computers are provided to a network of high schools across Washington State already trained in this model.

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