How did the teacher include the students in deciding how to assess the activity?
The teacher asked the class a series of questions about the assignment. She wanted to know where they spent their time, what was the hardest part they had to do, what other struggles did they have, and most importantly how do they feel they should be graded for this assignment? The teacher then took their input, and created a grading rubric which she then handed out to the class, and the students were able to have input on their fellow classmates projects. At the end of the presentation, the presenters fielded questions from their classmates. If giving these presentations is a normal way for the teacher to facilitate learning, the presenters would learn what things interest their classmates, and shape the next presentation to the interests of the class, or at the very least anticipate what questions the class would ask and be able to answer them.
Can you do this same type of assessment for students in lower grades?
I believe this type of assessment would work good for any grade as long as it is modified for the grade in question. One of the strongest elements of this grade, is the students themselves are presenting their work to their class, and then looking to the class for feedback on their work. I believe they would be motivated to put more effort into something that their entire class was going to view. I also believe they would value this assignment to be a worth use of their time, verses an assignment only the teacher saw and graded. Finally the students are learning valuable social skills as they work in groups with other students.
What other form of assessment could the teacher have used with this particular assignment?
There are a couple of different ways the teacher could grade this type of assignment: The teacher could have combined the grade from this project along with a test designed to learn more about the particular subject they were presenting. The groups would still be able to present, but the teacher would grade the project as it is presented without any feedback from the rest of the class. The teacher also could have had the groups create a project, and the hand the project in, where the teacher would then grade it and hand it back. Finally, the teacher could have asked them to create the project in such a way where it did not need to be presented. The students could then showcase the project at some school event, and ask parents who attended the event to stop by, and provide feedback on each of the projects.
