Assessing Deeper Learning – Jay McTighe

Transforming 21^st century standards and skills into a coherent curriculum and assessment system that emphasizes deep learning and long-term transfer is the focus of this session with educational consultant and noted author Jay McTighe.  We will explore the standards, skills, and related assessment strategies and practices that could become the basis of true “competency-based” educational programs, leading students to be better prepared for their futures.

The session will address these questions

• What are key competencies needed for a student to be “college and career ready”?
• Are we assessing everything we value or primarily those learning outcomes that are easiest to test?
• How can we gather appropriate evidence of deep learning of disciplinary content?
• How might we assess 21^st century skills (e.g., critical thinking, creativity, collaboration)?
• What if we “mapped the curriculum” in terms of desired performances rather than simply in terms of content to cover?
• What might a true competency-based curriculum and assessment system look like?

Many of the ideas examined in this session will be drawn from McTighe’s recent book, Leading Modern Learning: A Blueprint for Vision Driven Schools (2^nd ed.).