Sticky Assessment

Sticky: Tending or designed to stick to things on contact (Google)

Sticky assessments work in two ways. They catch student’s attention serving as the glue of learning. They also reveal how deeply students are learning. The idea behind sticky assessment is that growth occurs when dendrites flourish and new connections are made in the brain. The result is learning that lasts.   

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Traditionally, a teacher plans a unit and near the end decides how to measure learning. Students are more apt to stick to the learning path and not get lost when the distance and outcomes are clear right from the start.  After all, who would run a marathon that had no ending point or worse a constantly changing one?

Multiple assessment strategies engage students and keep them on the path to learning.

·         ·      Pre-assessments such as paper-links let each student record what they know and explain how it connects to prior learning. The linked strips can be used for review at the conclusion of teaching

·        ·   During learning students record new knowledge, reflections, connections, and summations using  progress trackers or graphic organizers

·       ·     Students stretch higher and deeper through a corners activity where they select a point of view and then work with others to develop a cohesive set of arguments to support their position

·         ·   At review time, students write the questions and quiz each other with a Q and A mix-up or games such as Jeopardy or Millionaire

  

Here are some ideas to make the switch to sticky strategies

FOCUS	CONVENTIONAL PRACTICE	STICKY STRATEGY
TIMING	Occasional tests	Embedded assessment strategies throughout teaching and learning
STRATEGY	Learners sit for paper and pencil measures	Learners take ownership of authentic/alternative assessments (Plan, Produce, Self-assess)
GRADING	Papers are returned with only a score	Feedback and guidance are provided
GROWTH	Primarily summative	Improvement is emphasized and opportunities for growth are provided

Assessment not only measures and reports learning, but also supports it. Large-scale tests are time-consuming and impersonal whereas classroom assessments are better suited to improving teaching and learning on a day by day basis through frequent measures, personalization, and rapid responses.

If our goal is student, teacher, and school success, it makes sense to start with sticky assessments that support learning, illuminate misunderstandings, and recognize accomplishments.