Acrobat A Printable version of this lesson is available in PDF format This requires a free plug-in, Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can find out if you need it by clicking on the PDF link. The video lesson presented many opportunities for the teacher to assess student learning. In both the group work and the large group presentations, the teacher listened to the thinking reflected in student statements and questions. From this process of listening, reflecting, questioning, and listening again, the teacher determines the guidance needed by the students.
Students share responsibility for the assessment process.
Through the process of the small group work followed by large group presentations, the students in this class assess their own thinking and the thinking of their classmates. Helping students learn to analyze, formulate problems, and communicate mathematical ideas is all part of helping students become better able to reflect thoughtfully on and assess their own mathematical growth. One student in the video mentioned seeing growth when he looked at his portfolio. He said that he learned new techniques and new methods and was able to really see that the processes are getting more complicated and his mind is expanding. Helping students monitor and guide their own development is one very good reason for using portfolios and projects in the mathematics classroom.