Just when you think you know everything

You run across something you wish you'd been reading all along. Just found a site that should be on on my list of links. Edutopia.

Beyond Smiley Sheet Evaluations

In our work on developing a plan for Middle School Redesign, we identified the need for teachers to elicit feedback from students and parents regarding the success of their teaching and their students' learning. One of the most commonly used tools for evaluating training in the work world is the smile sheet. Researcher Will Thalheimer has developed his own evaluation \that seeks to provide more specific feedback regarding specific objectives and concepts taught. He even provides a link for you to download his form to use as a template for your own course evaluation. Of course, his form is designed to measure reactions to a one-time workshop offering, but his approach is interesting and would be very useful to apply in the work training setting.

Downes Definitions of Education and Learning

From his canaries.ppt presentation,

Education is fundamentally a process of communication;

Learning is fundamentally a process of growth.

-- Stephen Downes

New law changing the way districts statewide calculate GPAs

New law changing the way districts statewide calculate GPAs

We keep trying to even the playing field so schools like UT Austin don't end up with such low percentages of blacks or others from low socio-economic backgrounds.


We need more research on effective assessment and qualitative evaluation. Predictors of success cannot always be reduced to numbers.

25 Teachers Who Drastically Changed the World | Teaching Tips

25 Teachers Who Drastically Changed the World | Teaching Tips

Every once in a while I need inspiration to continue in my chosen path. This list acquainted me with some unknown names and included some well-known figures I don't often think of as teachers.

Why I'm a Generalist

Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.
- Blaise Pascal