10 - Assessing PBL & Inquiry

In this episode, Tom and Nat introduce listeners to their new book, "Rehumanizing Assessment: Gathering Evidence of Student Learning through Storytelling." While subsequent episodes will focus on specific aspects and strategies, this episode is an overview of why they wrote the book and who the target audience is.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI   September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   Unleash YES Unleash YES Instagram   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat explore the intersection between assessment and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Specifically, they highlight five important connections: UDL means designing assessments from the start with flexibility in mind.  Assessment must reflect the UDL principles of engagement, representation, and expression.  Formative assessment is essential—it guides flexible, responsive design.  Clear learning goals allow you to separate the what from the how.  Self-assessment and reflection develop agency and expert learners.    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI   September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat play the game "Would You Rather," exploring five assessment dilemmas that teachers and schools often face:   Would You Rather: #1: Allow students to redo assessments right up to report card deadlines, or cut off revisions two weeks early to protect your feedback quality and mental health?  #2: Suppress a student’s grade when evidence is insufficient, or assign a best-estimate level using professional judgment to avoid blank spaces on reports?  #3: Use a single holistic score to reflect overall proficiency on a standard, or break it down into multiple component scores for clarity — even if it overwhelms families?  #4: Prioritize the accuracy of the final report card by using only summative tasks, or include some formative data to recognize effort and encourage student morale?  #5: Give more weight to recent evidence to honor growth, or consider the full body of work to avoid inflated grades from last-minute surges?    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

Tom and Nat explore some important reminders about how to ensure that the assessment of both Project- and Inquiry-Based Learning are meaningful, cognitively complex, and substantive. Just "doing" PBL or Inquiry is not enough. The promise of these approaches to learning is deeper learning so our assessment practices need to reach that promise.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this Tom Schimmer Podcast classic, Tom is joined by Gholdy Muhammad to discuss her book, "Cultivating Genius, an Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy."  Gholdy on X: @GholdyM Gholdy on Instagram: @gholdym   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS   MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI     NEW BOOK Rehumanizing Assessment through Story   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat share a three-year checklist for implementing standards-based grading. Of course, every checklist must be checked" against the culture and nuances of each specific situation. but generally, this checklist will provide a road map that can at least initiate the journey; you can adjust from there   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS   FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat discuss the "Secrets to Self-Assessment." Having students competent in self-assessment is the ultimate outcome of teachers' assessment literacy; teachers need to teach students how to do it. Tom and Nat discuss (1) Why Self-Assessment matters, (2) How to overcome the inevitable challenges and roadblocks that come with early implementation, and (3) Five effective self-assessment strategies.     PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS   FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  Orlando, FL.  FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss the "Grading Trap," which inadvertently occurs when traditional grading practices - things like zeros for missing work, late penalties, and mixing behavior with academic performance - end up working against learning instead of supporting it.  The "Grading Trap" can inadvertently sabotage great teaching. Tom and Natalie close the episode with ways that teachers can recognize the "red flags" of the "Grading Trap" and how they can get themselves out of it.     PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.  FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  Orlando, FL.  FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss three quick assessment wins. Each "win" falls within a specific aspect of assessment. Formative: Engineer conversations Summative: Reorganize the gradebook. Student Agency: Feedback through consent     PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.  FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  Orlando, FL.  FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]    

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss what makes a good rubric. They discuss the art and science of rubrics and what constitutes a high-quality rubric. They also discuss the differences between analytic, holistic, and single-point rubrics.     UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute  Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.  FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  Orlando, FL.  FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE  Phoenix, AZ  MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop  San Antonio, TX  MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) Solution Tree Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI       JENNIFER GONZALES RUBRICS BLOG: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/holistic-analytic-single-point-rubrics/     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]