I’m finishing up an article on standards-based learning for a journal. I think that the one drastically different aspect of standards-based learning from the usual teaching method is in the area of assessment. Teachers in a standards-based learning environment give many formative assessments. These assessments are embedded in the daily classroom activities since all activities are standards-based. However, the true clincher to show that they are standards-based is that the teachers give the students individualized comments about how they can specifically improve in the standard before the next time. These are not the general “Study more,” “Work harder,” or “Write better paragraphs” comments but these are specific formative comments “Include three different examples in your paragraphs to improve” or “In your contrast paragraphs, show an example from one novel and then vividly contrast it to the other novel.” As a result of the teachers’ feedback and the students employing these strategies, the students will be more successful in the standard.
Do you provide formative assessments with specific formative comments so that you students can constantly progress in the standard? Do you use technology to monitor the students’ progress and your formative comments to them?
© Harry Grover Tuttle, 2007
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Education with Technology Harry G. Tuttle 
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