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Collection of Resources with Links

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Check out this quick video to see how simple and dynamic this tool is! Great for student portfolios or any creative work!

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Videos, Lessons, Examples

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ISTE

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In the classroom as in court, it's not what you know, it's what you can prove you know.

And for generations of students and teachers, test scores have provided evidence of learning.

But the act of generating that hard proof - test-taking - proves harder for some students than others.

To level the playing field, better assess learning and prepare children for the modern workplace, educators are getting creative and encouraging students to do likewise.

Increasingly, educators are realizing they can engage, empower, motivate and teach children by enlisting student creativity as a means to assessment, say Kristen Brooks and Cindy Herren, school district technology leaders recognized as Apple Distinguished Educators.

For teachers who are ready to rethink assessments, many easy, free or inexpensive cross-platform creation tools are available, the two edtech specialists say.

"Obviously the goal of assessment is to measure student mastery," says Herren, a K-5 technology teacher in the Waukee Community School District in Iowa. "Some students measure high, and other students don't measure up.

"While that seems pretty cut and dry, there's a trend that students who measure high always measure high, and those who don't measure high tend to ... fall into that self-fulfilling prophecy of failing," she says. "What I really love about the creative process is everyone is really able to demonstrate their learning."

A creative addition to testing

Brooks and Herren acknowledge testing serves a purpose.

"I'm not saying testing is wrong," says Brooks, an instructional technology specialist with the Cherokee County School District in Georgia. "I just think assessment needs to be done in a lot of different styles."

Creative assessment is a powerful supplement to testing, Herren says.

"We're always going to have quizzes and tests and those assessments that help us gauge where our students are," she says. "But when we think of our assessments as something outside the traditional test or quiz, the feedback that they get tends to be very empowering."

Herren recommends using project-based assessments at least once per semester.

What's that look like in practice? The teacher poses a question, tells students what the standards are and asks them to demonstrate their knowledge through a creative project.

"It could be through a video, through a presentation, through using PicCollage or Book Creator," Herren says. "Let it be individual or in a group. There are just so many skills that students are able to practice in just the creation of showing their knowledge in that way.

"But it's also the process: There's just so much that goes into the problem-solving of what happens along the way when you're trying to build something and maybe things don't go your way," she says.

Brooks also stresses the quality of learning that students gain through the creative process.

"When you're having them create something, they're not just regurgitating that," Brooks says. "They're really thinking about the information and how to lay it out in a way that makes sense."

Brooks and Herren also believe educators are increasingly recognizing technology as a tool for creativity, not just research. Teachers are seeing the benefits, they say.

"Their classrooms are coming alive," Brooks says. "There's a buzz, and the kids are excited to be there."

Creative assessments address ISTE Standards

Not only that, project-based learning and design thinking are the foundation of many of the ISTE Standards for Students. Take the Empowered Learner standard. Indicator 1.c. says, "Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways."

The Innovative Designer standard expects students to "use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions.

That excitement for learning and the skills acquired through creation can ripple through students' lives.

" Creativity is one of the most important skill sets that employers are looking for," Herren says.

Brooks says fear - whether of technology or of just too many options - makes some teachers hesitant to embrace creative assessment. Her advice?

"Try one thing and learn with your kids," the Microsoft Innovative Educator says. "Any teacher who just tries is going to be a superstar."

In June, Brooks and Herren will lead a session on creativity in the classroom at ISTE19 titled " Bye, Bye Boring Tests: Using Student Creation for K-12 Assessment."

Here are seven of their favorite creative technology tools:

Adobe Spark - An integrated suite of web and mobile storytelling applications with three separate apps: Spark Page, Spark Post and Spark Video. Spark for Education offers free tools for creating reports, posters, presentations and more.

Apple Clips - A free mobile video editing app that lets users capture video, grab an existing video clip or photo, and easily add animated captions and titles.

Apple Keynote - Apple's answer to Microsoft's Powerpoint presentation tool. Cool Keynote features allow drawing, animation, cinematic transitions, narration and sounds.

Book Creator - A simple tool to create ebooks on iPad, Chromebooks and on the web. Books created using Book Creator may be published to Apple's iBooks Store or shared online.

- Inexpensive green screen and animation and drawing apps designed to let students "show what they know."

Pic Collage - Free photo editor app for creating collages, stories, cards and more.

- Simple but powerful journaling tool to capture, organize and share student learning. A free version is available.
Chris Frisella is a freelance writer who explores educational technology and its power to reshape learning and lives.

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With imagination and the right apps, students learn - and can prove it!

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In the classroom as in court, it's not what you know, it's what you can prove you know. And for generations of students and teachers, test scores have provided evidence of learning. But the act of generating that hard proof - test-taking - proves harder for some students than others.

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Sir Ken Robinson - Most Watched TED Talk

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Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

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Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

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About

Despite the hype surrounding project based learning (PBL), it is seldom made a reality in our schools and classrooms. Due to its countless layers and complexities, and despite best efforts, educators often implement something that only vaguely resembles PBL.

As questions and mysteries continue to swirl, experienced classroom teachers and school administrators Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have written a book that will empower those intimidated by PBL to cry, "I can do this!" while at the same time providing added value for those who are already familiar with this approach to teaching and learning. This book truly demystifies what PBL is all about with 10 hacks that construct a simple path educators and students can easily follow to achieve success.

When you learn how to hack project based learning, you'll be able to:

Create a culture of risk-taking to promote student inquiry and exploration

Maximize class time by prioritizing specific content and learning outcomes

Craft assessments and integrate feedback to ensure that every student learns

Provide intentional and purposeful opportunities for student reflection and publishing

Implement these strategies today and turn your school and classroom into a place that is dripping with inquiry-based learning, authentic learning, and a love of learning.

Free Course

Testimonials

HACKING PROJECT BASED LEARNING is a classroom essential. Its ten simple "hacks" will guide you through the process of setting up a learning environment in which students will thrive from start to finish.

- Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind

In Hattie's research PBL has shown to have a low effect size. However, it doesn't mean we need to discount it. It means we have to look at how we do it and improve upon it. This is where Hacking Project Based Learning by Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy comes in. They have researched PBL from every angle and offer practical steps to make the PBL experience highly beneficial to students because they are practitioners who use it. This book is a very important "How-to" for every teacher and leader who is interested in PBL.

- Peter DeWitt, author/consultant, Finding Common Ground blog (Education Week)

The challenge for educators with project and inquiry-based learning is finding the time and having the knowledge to implement effectively. Cooper and Murphy provide a much-needed resource that addresses both of these pain points in a concise, clear manner.

- Eric Sheninger, Senior Fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education

As the Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools, I've had the opportunity to work closely with more than 4,000 school leaders over the past few years. From coast to coast, I've seen firsthand how these leaders are seeking ways to implement rigorous, authentic learning opportunities for all students. As seen in today's most successful schools, creating such opportunities takes a redesigned learning experience that is personal while promoting real world application. In Hacking Project Based Learning, Cooper and Murphy, two highly successful practitioners, provide a blueprint for such a redesign. They outline ways to foster a culture of inquiry and creativity, grounded in a deep understanding of rigorous content, with concrete ways to authentically assess dynamic student learning and growth. Unlike many education books written today, Hacking Project Based Learning provides practical steps to shift instructional practices while maintaining a laser focus on high levels of student learning. If you're a school leader working to create authentic learning opportunities for all of your students, you will find this book to be one of your best resources on your journey moving forward.

- Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools, Alliance for Excellent Education

Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have created an accessible guide for all educators on the meaningful implementation of project based learning within any classroom setting. The process, laid out in 10 easy to follow hacks, takes educators on a journey from the theory behind PBL to the actual planning and execution of PBL in a way that is best for kids. Whether someone is a PBL novice or an expert who has been using the PBL approach for years, this book offers dozens of new and practical ideas while also suggesting ways to handle pushback from those who embrace the deficit mindset. In addition to the focus on PBL, the thing about this book that really resonated with me were the overarching themes of empowering students to take ownership over the learning and empowering educators to go much deeper than just "covering the curriculum" - Hacking PBL is all about meaningful learning that results from thoughtful questioning. Hacking PBL is a must have for every classroom!

- Tony Sinanis, 2014 NYS Elementary Principal of the Year, speaker, author of Hacking Leadership

Hacking PBL is a must have for administrators trying to help their teachers bring hands-on, minds-on learning to their classrooms. The process is clear, the problems are real, and the hacks are practical. In the end, the work will be transformational for classrooms. Anyone starting the process of project based learning in their space needs this book!

- Joe Sanfelippo, Superintendent, speaker, author of Hacking Leadership

Ross and Erin created an easy to follow road map that will help any teacher at any level successfully integrate project based learning into his or her learning spaces. They break down the specifics of how in easy to follow steps, as well as explicitly walk teachers through the how of meaningful collaboration. If you're looking for a book on PBL, this is sure to be a go-to in your collection.

- Starr Sackstein, high school English teacher and teacher coach, author of Hacking Assessment

Chances are you are picking up Hacking Project Based Learning for three possible reasons. You may want to get started with project based learning and aren't sure where to begin. Or maybe you've dabbled in PBL before but want to make it better for your students. Although, I'm sure there are many of you who are also going to use it as a text that supports what you are already doing in your classroom, and as a way to spread the power of PBL throughout your school or district. Here's the good news: Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have crafted a project based learning guide that can get you started with PBL for the first time, push you further if you are a seasoned PBL veteran, or make the case to your colleagues about authentic learning. The great news is that Hacking Project Based Learning is a fast-paced, incredibly practical, and immediately actionable book that will spark innovation in any K-12 classroom.

- A.J. Juliani, author of LAUNCH and Learning by Choice

Hacking PBL is just what educators need to truly demystify project based learning. Ross and Erin know PBL. They are passionate about PBL and they implemented the strategies they share in this book every day in their classrooms at Willow Lane Elementary. Ross and Erin's passion for PBL comes across so clearly in the ten hacks by representing a simple, linear path that educators and students can follow to achieve success. I highly recommend Hacking PBL as your guide to learn instructional and learning strategies that teachers can use for implementation of PBL or in changing teaching practice. These are all practices educators should be looking to bring into schools and classrooms regardless of whether or not "full-blown PBL" is taking place.

- Barbara Bray, author of Make Learning Personal and How to Personalize Learning

Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have done an exquisite job of creating a project based bearning guide that any school or educator is sure to benefit from. Leveraging their experiences as practitioners, they provide the perfect blend of progressive ideas and research-based practices, in one easy to follow format.

- Laura Fleming, Library Media Specialist, author of Worlds of Making

This book is a must-have resource for teachers and administrators who are looking to move toward true collaboration and deeper learning through real project based learning. As a classroom teacher and digital learning coach, I know the teachers I work with and I will reference it often! At each phase of project based learning, from research and planning to implementation and reflection, Cooper and Murphy have clearly explained the whys, hows, and whats. Every chapter is bursting with PBL examples, guiding questions to empower educators to develop their own high impact PBL experiences, and proactive positive answers to questions commonly asked by those who are skeptical of this approach. Whether you are an educator new to project based learning or an experienced PBL pro, you (and your students!) will benefit from this practical research-based guide.

- Kerry Gallagher, J.D., Digital Learning Specialist, Director of K-12 Education, ConnectSafely

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About / Free CourseÂ / TestimonialsÂ / Work with MeÂ / Get the Book! Â About Despite the hype surrounding project based learning (PBL), it is seldom made a reality in our schools and classrooms. Due to its countless layers and complexities, and despite best efforts, educators often implement something that only vaguely resembles PBL.

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The Cult of Pedagogy

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The practice of using single point rubrics is slowly but surely catching on. The simplicity of these rubrics - with just a single column of criteria, rather than a full menu of performance levels - offers a whole host of benefits:

Teachers find them easier and faster to create, because they no longer have to spend precious time thinking up all the different ways students could fail to meet expectations.

Students find them easier to read when preparing an assignment. With only the target expectations to focus on, they are more likely to read those expectations.

They allow for higher-quality feedback, because teachers must specify key problem areas and notable areas of excellence for that particular student, rather than choosing from a list of generic descriptions.

Want to Learn More?

I first talked about this type of rubric in an earlier post ( Know Your Terms: Holistic, Analytic, and Single-Point Rubrics). If this is the first time you've encountered this type of rubric, reading this will give you some background knowledge on all the different types of rubrics and why the single-point deserves world domination.

To give credit where it's due, I did not come up with the name single point rubric. Although the idea for a simplified rubric with a single set of criteria came to me independently, when I went looking for academic support for its use, I found that the type of rubric I had in mind was given the name "Single Point Rubric" in 2000 during a conference presentation by someone named Mary Dietz. Attending that conference was a researcher named Jarene Fluckiger, who published a study on its effectiveness in 2010. (The reference to Dietz is in Fluckiger's paper, but no one named Dietz has published anything on the topic.)

Show Us Your Rubrics!

I urge you to take one of your most convoluted rubrics and make a single-point version of it. Then show it to the world, so other teachers can learn: Take a screenshot of it and post the picture on Twitter with the hashtag #singlepointrubric. If you aren't on Twitter or don't feel like doing this, just put a link to your rubric in the comments below. Help us start a movement to rid the world of ineffective rubrics!

Another Variation (Added in 2017)

After considering some of the limitations of this format, I played around with the rubric a bit more and came up with this variation:

The original version of the single point rubric allowed no space for actually pointing out when the student hit the standard, apart from maybe circling or highlighting the middle column. With this format, teachers can pinpoint where the student is on each descriptor, then offer feedback, either constructive, positive, or both.

To grab a copy of this for your own modification, click here.

Need Ready-Made Rubrics?

My Rubric Pack gives you four different designs in Microsoft Word and Google Docs formats. It also comes with video tutorials to show you how to customize them for any need, plus a Teacher's Manual to help you understand the pros and cons of each style. Check it out here:

Stick around.
Join my mailing list and never miss another post. You'll get weekly tips, tools, and inspiration - in quick, bite-sized packages - all geared toward making your teaching more effective and joyful. To thank you, I'll send you a free copy of my new e-booklet, 20 Ways to Cut Your Grading Time in Half. I look forward to getting to know you better!

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The practice of using single point rubrics is slowly but surely catching on. Try one for yourself and let us see it!