"Instructional" Categories
16.November.2008 07:05 Filed in: PowerSchool
The default categories that come in the PowerTeacher
Web Gradebook are exactly what all of us think of
when we think of categories--homework, projects,
quizzes, tests. These categories can be used for all
kinds of analysis, but the nature of the information
that we receive back from the aforementioned
categories is not that useful to us as teachers.
(“Little Lisa is better at projects than she is at
tests.”)
Switching to categories focused on instructional content/concepts and skills can yield much more powerful information for teachers when analyzed--information that can be used for guiding instruction. (“Little Lisa performs really well with summarizing, but she is still struggling with her ability to define and support point of view when reading.”)
So, I want to switch the categories? How do I do so? Even if you have already entered assignments, this can be done quickly.
3 Easy Steps
1. Create your new categories. (The steps for creating new categories are on page 24 in the manual. While technically correct, these steps were still written for our “types of work” categories rather than with “instructional” categories as a model.) You can get to the Categories dialog box by going to Tools > Categories in the menu bar.
2. Go in to your assignments window and change the pull-down on each assignment to best represent the Category in which they fit.
What do you do if an assignment does not fit? Well, if you have three or more assignments that are similar and do not fit, create a category for them that defines them based on the content/concepts or skills assessed. We do not recommend re-scoring assignments from early in the year. You may choose to uncheck the “Include in Final Grade” box for a particular assignment, or you may simply put the assignment in the category that best captures its focus.
Moving forward, this process will both:
- Be easier to categorize assessments as you administer and enter them
- Cause us to reflect on what we’re assessing and help us eliminate unnecessary assessments that are time consuming for teachers and of no additional benefits to students
3. Delete the old categories ASAP. Go back to the Categories dialog. Highlight one of the old “types of work” categories, and click the “-” button to delete it. When finished deleting, click the “Close” button.
Switching to categories focused on instructional content/concepts and skills can yield much more powerful information for teachers when analyzed--information that can be used for guiding instruction. (“Little Lisa performs really well with summarizing, but she is still struggling with her ability to define and support point of view when reading.”)
So, I want to switch the categories? How do I do so? Even if you have already entered assignments, this can be done quickly.
3 Easy Steps
1. Create your new categories. (The steps for creating new categories are on page 24 in the manual. While technically correct, these steps were still written for our “types of work” categories rather than with “instructional” categories as a model.) You can get to the Categories dialog box by going to Tools > Categories in the menu bar.
2. Go in to your assignments window and change the pull-down on each assignment to best represent the Category in which they fit.
What do you do if an assignment does not fit? Well, if you have three or more assignments that are similar and do not fit, create a category for them that defines them based on the content/concepts or skills assessed. We do not recommend re-scoring assignments from early in the year. You may choose to uncheck the “Include in Final Grade” box for a particular assignment, or you may simply put the assignment in the category that best captures its focus.
Moving forward, this process will both:
- Be easier to categorize assessments as you administer and enter them
- Cause us to reflect on what we’re assessing and help us eliminate unnecessary assessments that are time consuming for teachers and of no additional benefits to students
3. Delete the old categories ASAP. Go back to the Categories dialog. Highlight one of the old “types of work” categories, and click the “-” button to delete it. When finished deleting, click the “Close” button.
