Hands-on, Practical Guidance for Educators

From math, literacy, equity, multilingual learners, and SEL, to assessment, school counseling, and education leadership, our books are research-based and authored by experts on topics most relevant to what educators are facing today.

Look Inside

How Do We Know They’re Getting Better?

Assessment for 21st Century Minds, K–8

By: John F. Barell

Discover how inquiry leads to problem-solving and learn specific steps for pre, formative and summative assessment that informs instruction of 21st century skills such as critical thinking and collaboration.

Full description

Look Inside

Product Details

Grade Level: K-8
ISBN: 9781412995283
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2012
Page Count: 264
Publication date: January 18, 2012

Select Format:

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.

Description

Boost your students' 21st century skills

How do we measure students' inquiry, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities so that we know they are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century? John Barell explains how inquiry leads to problem-solving and provides specific steps for pre, formative and summative assessment that informs instruction of 21st century skills. Included are examples that show how to use today's technology in the classroom and how to use inquiry to develop and assess students' ability to:

Think critically and creatively
Collaborate with others
Become self-directed learners
Adapt and become resourceful
Develop a sense of leadership, responsibility, and global awareness

The authors challenge teachers to reflect on their own learning, thinking, and problem-solving processes as well as those of their students. The text provides frameworks for monitoring students' progress and guidelines for communicating with parents. Teachers will find examples from all grade levels that show how to observe and assess students' growth in their development of 21st century capacities, making this a timely and valuable resource.

Author(s)

John F. Barell

Learn more about John Barell's PD offerings

John Barell is Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Teaching at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, and former public school teacher in New York City. For the past several years he has been a consultant for inquiry-based instruction and creation of science/social studies networks at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. For most of his educational career he has worked with schools nationally to foster inquiry, problem-based learning, critical thinking, and reflection. Barell is the author of several books, including Teaching for Thoughtfulness: Strategies to Enhance Intellectual Development (1995, 2nd ed.) and Developing More Curious Minds (2003).

Table of Contents

Appreciations

About the Author

Introduction

1. An Overview

2. Teacher Modeling

3. Creating the Invitation-to-Risk Environment

4. Curriculum for the 21st Century

5. Preassessments

6. Formative Assessments: Gathering a "Wealth of Information"

7. From Stories to Powerful Questions

8. "My Inquiry Skills Shot Through the Roof!"

9. "STEM Changed My Life!"

10. "Cookie-Cutter A" Becomes Self-Directed Student

11. Inquiry Begins at Home

12. After Action Reviews

Index

Reviews

“John Barell's writing provides insight and a compelling vision for educators in design and inquiry to promote critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration and the engagement of all learners. This is a must read for educators, parents and policymakers to successfully create a culture of inquiry for 21^st century learning.”

Donna DeSiato, Superintendent
East Syracuse Minoa Central School District, NY

"This courageous work, told brilliantly through the stories of teachers and students throughout top classrooms in the U.S. and Canada, gives readers tools for observing, monitoring, and assessing students’ critical thinking skills and project based outcomes. This is a must read for 21st century teachers and school leaders."

Carol Van Vooren, Assistant Professor, School of Education
California State University San Marcos, CA

"An inspiring and practical direction for assessing the most critical skills our students must acquire to create, lead, and problem solve. Barell demonstrates the urgency of a curriculum standard for implementing inquiry learning in today’s classrooms. This book offers an exciting vision for revolutionizing instructional methods in the 21st century."

Crystal Martin, Elementary Teacher
Lee County Schools, FL

Other Titles in: Student Assessment | Teaching Methods & Learning Styles | Learning Styles

Select Format:

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.