5.4.6 A World of Products: Encouraging Excellence through Product Protocol

In today’s world, students have technological tools at their fingertips whether they are creating a pamphlet that persuades businesses to relocate to their city or designing a PowerPoint exploring the plant cell. It is critical that educators are not misled by the look of the product – it must have substance. After all, content underpins most products. At the same time, however, the product itself must be held to high standards since professionals use products in the world of work. Additionally, intentional product development taps into 21st century skills – from thinking creatively to communicating clearly, creating media to self-directing learning. Those skills are developed in the high ability learner when educators use a protocol for assessment that holds children to high standards while encouraging creativity and metacognition. The Developing and Assessing Product (DAP) Tool guides students in product development, facilitates differentiation, simplifies assessment, and removes the learning ceiling. Participants will explore the importance of products in relation to student empowerment and authentic assessment as well as a protocol that eases use and differentiation of products. Through multiple examples of kinesthetic, oral, visual, written, and technological DAP Tools and real student products, participants will gain confidence in their ability to transfer the protocol to their classrooms. This session explores four innovations to product assessment: 1. DAP Tools – regardless of product – have these same components: content (how students demonstrate learning); presentation (elements particular to specific products); creativity (originality put into content and product); and reflection (metacognition). Consistent language and expectations simplify the assessment process for everyone. 2. DAP Tools guide students in the development of products by specifying key elements and setting targets so students know the essential steps in learning (i.e., content, presentation, creativity, and reflection). They guide educators in assessing those products. 3. DAP Tools’ grading scales vary from traditional ones: the learning ceiling has been removed. Multiple levels beyond proficiency show the possibilities for excellence. 4. DAP Tools have three levels of sophistication so that they can be used across grade levels and abilities to differentiate assignments. The DAP Tool can be used with all students in all content areas. This assessment protocol encourages continuous progress so that students consistently hone skills and develop talent.

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