Innovative Assessments - OpenSciEd
Professional Learning Session Overview

Innovative Assessments

Investigating how OpenSciEd’s assessment system focuses on student sensemaking

Session Overview

This two-day professional development session focuses on the overarching question – How do we support and assess students’ growth in 3 dimensional learning? It assumes the prerequisite completion of the Launch Professional Learning and previous experience teaching an OpenSciEd unit. Included in this session are opportunities for teachers to:

  • Analyze OpenSciEd Assessments using key criteria for 3D Assessments.
  • Identify and analyze the different types of assessments in the OpenSciEd assessment system.
  • Examine student work to provide feedback and support students’ 3D learning.
  • Use the assessment guidance to reflect on and prepare for lessons.
  • Engage in the actual lessons of the unit as a student.

All of the instructional materials associated with this professional learning session are available for download from the Access the Instructional Materials page.

Session Agenda

Day 1: What does 3 Dimensional Assessment Look Like?

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Guiding Question:

What does 3 Dimensional Assessment Look Like?

Participants will understand:

  • How students use the 3 Dimensions in sensemaking.
  • The key criteria for 3D Assessments and how to use the criteria to analyze assessments.
  • The different types of assessments in the OpenSciEd assessment system.
  • Where assessment opportunities can be found within an OpenSciEd unit. 
  • How students develop three dimensional understandings over the course of an OpenSciEd unit.
  • How different types of assessments can provide information to support student learning.
  • The anchoring phenomenon routine and storyline for a focal unit.

Length:

  • 1 hour – Introduction: Use 4 Assessment Criteria to analyze a sample OpenSciEd assessment task. 
  • 5 hours – Unit Specific: Experience the Anchoring Phenomena routine and build the storyline with a focus on the 3 Dimensions.
  • 1 hour – Closing: Introduce OpenSciEd Assessment System

Day 2: How can we use 3D assessments to notice and support student learning?

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Guiding Question:

How can we use 3D assessments to notice and support student learning?

Participants will understand:

  • The purpose and use of different assessments in OpenSciEd to support student learning.
  • How analysis of student work from formative and summative assessments can reveal the student resources students bring to their sensemaking across the 3 dimensions.
  • The types of assessment guidance included in the OpenSciEd instructional materials.
  • Ways to use assessment data and guidance to provide feedback and support students’ 3D learning.
  • Ways to utilize the OpenSciEd assessment system within teacher’s own school contexts.
  • How to set up and facilitate students in the key student investigations and discussions from the unit.

Length:

  • 1 hour – Introduction: Analyze student work from formative and summative tasks.
  • 5 hours – Unit Specific: Experience key lessons and use assessment guidance to reflect on and prepare for lessons.
  • 1 hour – Closing: Reflection and application to own context