Learning as Conversation and Messy Assessment

Presented by Wesley Fryer: www.speedofcreativity.org

Session Description:

Truly educative experiences are often in short supply in schools today. Interactive experiences become engaging when they are meaningful for the learner. To help students authentically learn both the content and the process skills of the curriculum, educators should strive to engage students in meaningful conversations and activities. Technology tools can be invaluable aides in this process. Assessment should not be only multiple choice: To truly assess the understanding and present abilities of students, teachers need to embrace and utilize a variety of "messy assessment" strategies that can powerfully leverage technology for engagement and evaluation.

Enhanced and audio-only (mp3) podcasts of this session will be subsequently posted on Wesley's blog Moving at the Speed of Creativity, and a video version will also be available on Kan-Ed Live!

Websites and resources referenced in the presentation:

1. Presentation slides (PDF - 7.9 MB) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
2. Blog of Tim Wilson
3. Blog of Brian Crosby
4. Additional links are available in the podcast shownotes of this presentation's podcast

Possible questions for the videoconference with Tim

• How do you think the classroom of today should be different to prepare kids for their future?
• What should teaching and learning look like REGULARLY across the K-12 spectrum, in contrast to a textbook-based, teacher-centered, transmission model of education?
• In your district, how do you try to help teachers learn to embrace and use the learning strategies and activities you've discussed?

Possible questions for the videoconference with Brian

• Can you intro yourself and tell us a little about what your educational background and role now?
• What does messy learning look like in your classroom?
• What does messy assessment look like?
• Do you think it is important for kids to have some control over their learning?
• Why would you agree or disagree that authentic learning is all about conversations?
• What are the best ways you've found to invite students to have spontaneous and self-directed conversations in your classroom?

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