Introduction
Teacher-made assessment strategies, both formal and informal, help educators monitor student learning, provide guidance, and support, and evaluate student progress consistently and accurately. These assessments are tailored to the students and the class’s specific needs and goals and can provide a more accurate and consistent means of evaluating student learning. Real-school life situations offer educators a way to teach children how to use their skills. The textbook “Elementary Social Studies” provides the case of the Salad Girls, a group of 5th-grade students who engaged in an inquiry-based learning opportunity driven by their interests and needs.
Discussion
Ms. Owens and Principal Shannon used informal assessments throughout the Salad Girls inquiry. These assessments included observations of the students’ engagement and participation. It helped to understand the motives of the salad girls who “decided their school salad failed to meet their health and religious needs” (p. 105). Furthermore, the educators discussed their thoughts, insights, and feedback on their progress and understanding with the students. These informal assessments helped the teacher and principal to monitor the student’s learning and provide guidance.
The final summative assessment of the Salad Girls research was their presentation at the all-school assembly. This presentation was an authentic assessment as it involved the students applying what they had learned in a real-world setting and demonstrating their understanding. Without creative, complex, performance-based tasks, there is “no real way of determining growth or diagnosing where it breaks down” (p. 165). Authentic assessments reflect real-world situations and involve applying knowledge and skills in meaningful and relevant ways.
Conclusion
Regardless of the outcome of their request, the Salad Girls would still have learned from the inquiry process. This type of learning focuses on investigation and discovery, and the students gain valuable skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. These skills are essential for their future success, regardless of whether the cafeteria manager changes the menu. The exploration process provides students with a valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful learning experiences and develop important skills that will serve them well in their future academic and personal endeavors.