The call for balanced systems of assessment was born from a recognition that most assessments were doing a poor job of serving a primary purpose—improving learning and instruction. Educators understand that large-scale summative tests are too distal from instruction, at the wrong grain size, and administered at the wrong time of year to make a difference in their daily practice. Therefore, the calls to balance—actually rebalance—assessment systems were motivated by desires to enhance the utility of the system for improving learning and teaching. Dr. Marion co-facilitated the New Mexico Task Force for Student Success and will discuss opportunities for New Mexico to shift towards more balanced systems of assessment, especially those that include performance-based assessments to support improved instruction.

• Click to download presentation materials:
  • Slide deck
  • Assessment activities:
    • Congressional testimony
    • CRM
    • Jumping to Conclusions
    • Tank Gauge
    • Carmaliticus

In this presentation Paul will draw on his experience from states around the country who have transformed their assessment systems. His vision begins with building the capacity of teachers to reimagine student learning and assessment to reflect the skills and knowledge that will be needed in the future. His work is rooted in changing the culture of teaching and learning and building assessment systems that reflect that new vision.

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The Santa Fe Public Schools has spent the past year developing a graduate profile that reflects an innovative framework that reflects the values and beliefs of the community and prepares students for lifelong success. This session will focus on the ways in which Santa Fe Public Schools will continue to work with the community to develop a framework that informs implementation and measurement of the profile across the district.

What is school for, and who gets to decide? Students and teachers are often excluded from answering these questions, when they are often the best experts. Storytelling is a powerful way to raise their voices.

In this session, Emily Hill will share how MediaDesk conceptualized and built the “If You Ask Me…” galleries. Interact with these augmented reality exhibits showcasing student and teacher voices from across New Mexico. Using this framework, Emily will help participants design their own storytelling event to help raise student voices in the classroom. Learn how storytelling exercises build connections, deepen relationships, and fundamentally change our conversations about what is possible for schools.

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As New Mexico embraces Assessment for Learning and invests in the local wisdom of educators and community leaders, we have the opportunity to build out a meaningful Menu of Options to Demonstrate College and Career Readiness. Student Capstone’s provide an innovative, more authentic, and equally rigorous pathway for students to demonstrate readiness to graduate. Future Focused Education is partnering with NMPED to facilitate a statewide Community of Practice on Student Capstones. This highly interactive session will engage in a Future Protocol to develop a vision for the work, identify local assets and opportunities, and brainstorm potential action steps toward realizing the vision. We have a vision of ground up reform complemented by national expertise to transform our public schools across New Mexico.

• Click to download presentation materials:
  • Slide deck
  • Balanced Assessment System in Context of Equity