What if we invented a new way altogether of assessing our kids’ work? What if we focused more on what they could do than where they fail to reach 100 points, the sought-after A that for many kids is far more important than learning a language? We have done that to some extent with jGR/ISR and brave are those among us who, against scornful eyes and judging hearts, have endeavored to make that rubric work in their classrooms. But what if we took it further? Our PLC member Jeff Easthon pitches that idea to us below. I like the idea. But what does the group think? Too much? Awarding badges can’t work? Or do they hold potential for us to provide truly radically different grading experiences in our classroom?
Jeff shares:
Open Badges are coming to the education world. As a community we have the opportunity to be the first group (I seriously think) to use these as a large part of our classes. I want our site to be the one that teachers sign up for to collaborate and improve their practice. I want it to be the only site that WL teachers use to get the official CI badges.
This is the website that I will use in my own classes this year if we don’t start an official CI badges website:
http://www.badgelist.com/students-of-easthon
Please take a minute to look at some of the badges and the evidence that the students have to submit to earn them. I need all the input I can get to perfect this aspect.
I would much rather share this idea with the community and have all of us work together to make it the best website on the Internet for this badge concept.
I know that we can all have higher motivation in our classes if we use the badges.
Jeff