As soon as I read Jeremy's description of this blog assignment, one alternate assessment jumped out at me from high school.
My 12th grade economics class was probably my favorite class my senior year in high school. (Also the only one I even remember besides the 4 study halls I sat through). I remember walking into the class in September thinking "This is going to be a breeze" because my softball coach was the teacher. Looking back now, it was most likely the most influential class that I took in high school - more or less all because of one alt. assessment.
The last few months of the year we learned about budgeting and basically living our lives on our own. We were made 'husbands and wives' in class, and choose our careers and salaries out of a hat. I don't even remember what career I chose, but I remember some of the professions included teachers, software designers, mailmen, waitresses, and so on and so forth. Based on our salaries we found apartments, "purchased" a home if we were able, cars, and pretty much everything else you would need to 'get started' in life after college. We even went as far as to decorate our homes and shop for clothes with any spare money. We found some of our peers were able to buy homes and drive a Mercedes, when others were still living in a cheap aparmtent in the city of Buffalo.
This was a VERY eye opening project as a senior in high school. In class we displayed our lifestyles (homes/apts/cars) so everyone could see. It was made very clear to us that we had to work very hard to get where we wanted to go. I think it was an incredible life lesson, especially to those who were unsure about going to college or what to do after high school.
Beside the actual life lessons that this long-term project taught us, I think that the assessment itself was GREAT. We spent the majority of the project working with our partner, but there were also individual assignments given throughout. We had to not only communicate to get the assignments completed - but we had to actually compromise - A LOT.
I am actually in the process of incorporating some kind of project like this into my math class. At the end of this year, my students will be taking part of a Geometry "Housing Project." Students will be designing and building a home. I'm hoping that this class will be some what of an aide to me as I create the assessment.
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I also had to do a similar project my senior year. It was an individual project where we selected a career, and based on that career's average income, had to create a detailed financial plan. We had to consider housing, transportation, bills/payments, and dependents. It was quite an involved process, but also a neat glimpse into adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI did something like this as well, but we didn't do as much as you did. I wish we did though because it sounded really fun! I only had to find a job and finance everything myself. I didn't have to worry about a marriage, which I think would have been even more beneficial. I would def. do something like this if the objectives were in my curriculum. I think kids learn the most when they are actually taking part in something and not just listening. Nice job! Thanks again for helping me out.
ReplyDeleteDiana, it looks like you had fun in this class. Unfortunately, I didn't have this much fun when I was in high school. I never did cool projects like these, even though I took an economics course. We always took notes via paper and pencil-- not too much fun, especially in an economics course. I hope that through this course, I learn how to create such assessments.
ReplyDeleteI did something like this, but it related to the stock market. It didn't seem as interesting as yours. For me if the teacher does not engage in the assessment and hold high and clear expectations, I seem to not remember or care for the assessments. The dream house assessment plan for your students sounds interesting. I would be interested to see how your going to put that together.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great assessment. I wish I would have been able to do something similar in high school. I can remember learning about different careers, expenses, and making/ maintaining a budget. Although I can remember doing it I don't remember much other than that. We never did anything to the extent of the assessment that you described above. When an instructor provides an assessment as you had above it really helps students to learn and grow because it gives them a real life scenario. It apparently must have had a big impact on you because you can remember it well.
ReplyDelete"I think it was an incredible life lesson, especially to those who were unsure about going to college or what to do after high school."
ReplyDeleteSo, was this a great assessment? or a great lesson? Does the distinction matter?
I think this is a really neat assessment Diana. If I have to teach econ I might try to use something similar. I remember sitting in my class bored out of my mind, so this could create some excitement. It teaches people to become a little more responsible (at least if they're the ones who don't get the really rich drawing). It can promote budgeting.
ReplyDelete