Rethinking Assessment or Today’s Classroom How often have you, as an educator, wondered about the real depth of your students’ mastery of skills and concepts following a lesson? To validate their knowledge, you might engage them with questions during the class, introduce pop quizzes, or even rely on broader assessments to gauge their understanding. Yet, … Read more
“Bias is any trend or deviation from the truth in data collection, data analysis, interpretation and publication which can cause false conclusions. Bias can occur either intentionally or unintentionally. Intention to introduce bias into someone’s research is immoral.” Simundic, 2013. In educational assessments, bias can have significant implications for the fairness, accuracy and effectiveness of the … Read more
“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts; it is acquiring understanding.” – William Arthur Ward Teaching in today’s world seems a far cry from small children sitting in neat rows of desks while an educator delivers a formal lecture. Education is more about experiences, opportunities and … Read more
Current pedagogical practices suggest that while there is no one ‘correct’ way of determining children’s mastery of skills and concepts, there is a need to assess them in some way. This may not be through a formal examination or a standardized test, but it is necessary in order to support children’s growth and development. “In … Read more
In every sector where there are rules and regulations, a trail of paperwork will inevitably follow. A regulated industry means that there are standards; that to play a significant role within it, you must have some form of qualification, usually defined by that regulatory body. It proves that you have a deep understanding of the … Read more
“If you believe it, you can achieve it,” and “fake it ‘til you make it,” are just two of the common phrases used when trying to elevate someone’s thinking. But how much weight is really given to these positive, “go getter” attitudes when it comes to measuring success. Research conducted by Stanford University School of … Read more
Education is not a singular verb. It has many layers and cannot be carried out in isolation. It is not possible to simply look at the input/output exchange of teaching as a way of measuring its success, we must look at the whole child. It is this holistic view that begins in early childhood, since … Read more
The United States of America is home to around 335 million people and according to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 22% of those speak a language other than English at home. There is no doubt that being raised in a bilingual home benefits the child. Kapa and Colombo, 2013, as referred to by Michigan … Read more
Serious play-sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? The truth is, when it comes to children, we may not think about the importance of play because it seems intrinsic within the life of a child. As adults, we tend to lose sight of maintaining the space for play as our children grow. We forget that what … Read more
What is the purpose of children’s education? Is it simply to learn how to read, write and learn algebraic formulas? Or are we beyond the 19th Century notion of 3 Rs of Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic? It has been suggested that a more modern approach to these 3 Rs are now Responsiveness, Resilience and Relationships … Read more
