Traditionally children demonstrated what they learned through written reports and tests. However, not only do many children not demonstrate well this way, moving forward into this century, this is not the way that creative and innovative thinkers will demonstrate what they know.
There are many, many different ways for children to show what they have learned. Authentic learning needs authentic demonstration. Children should be encouraged to show what they have learned in ways that they are comfortable with and confident about. They should also be encouraged to demonstrate mastery of what they know in unique and new ways.
Photo-Journals, Computer Presentations, Literary Works, Scripts, Performances, Posters, Demonstrations, Competitions, Models, Dioramas, Correspondence…
In the back of our back One School’s Journey we made a list of all of the ways that students had demonstrated learning/presented projects in our school. Honestly, we could probably double that list a year later. As our students became more comfortable with authentic learning they evolved with the unique ways they presented what they had learned. These are the kinds of doers and thinkers that will make it, and make a difference in this coming century!
The Educational Journey 