Non-Traditional Assessments: Inspiring a Spectrum of Understanding
Laura Oeschger
Traditional exams and testing have climbed the ranks of what’s trending in education. Even President Barack Obama has weighed in on the debate over the effectiveness of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank tests. Across all disciplines and grade levels, Shipley teachers are exploring new and more effective methods of assessment to broaden the spectrum of their students’ understanding of the material being taught in the classroom.
Elizabeth Zodda, Upper School science teacher and department chair, trades pencils and papers in her Introductory Physics Honors class for challenging project-based assessments. “I may give them a bunch of circuit materials and tell them to build something,” she says. “I watch them try, fail, and reflect, until the circuit works correctly and the students really show me what they can do.” Zodda explains that not having a week of test review and a two-hour exam frees up her curriculum for a more realistic representation of the work students will have to do beyond the classroom – learning resilience and problem-solving skills.
Seniors in Sunny Greenberg’s The Here and Now interdisciplinary course, for instance, choose topics, conduct research, and craft comprehensive yet compelling TED-inspired talks to deliver to a group of peers and Shipley faculty. “Students learn how to synthesize skills of research, public speaking, and developing an argument in a new medium. They seem to really appreciate and enjoy the process,” she says. In the modern language department, language isn't just memorization. “The focus is on the application,” explains Kim Harris, Upper School Spanish teacher and department chair. Students build on the vocabulary and grammar learned, and apply it to interpersonal and non-rehearsed conversation, supplemented by projects that challenge both students’ language skills and creativity – such as a magazine article, poem, or a video. “That's where the greater, longer-lasting learning happens,” says Harris. “It’s not just a fill-in-the-blank.”
Shipley’s fine arts department challenges students to critique the work of their peers and offer constructive criticism in an organized group discussion. “We’re teaching students to take those critical thinking and articulation skills and apply it back to their own process,” says Steve Baris, Upper School art teacher and department chair. “That is probably the greatest, most enriching aspect of the critique process, and an essential life skill.”
Not forgetting that many colleges and universities administer traditional exams and Shipley’s commitment to preparing students for all aspects of learning, students do sit for exams in some classes. Patty Lein, Upper School Academic Dean and math teacher, gives a math exam to her students, but adds a non-traditional twist by telling her students their grade in a private meeting. “It's not about the grade,” she explains. “It's about identifying the student’s strengths and the areas of improvement. I think that conversation is important.”
Supporting non-traditional assessments speaks to what Shipley stands for, Lein says, which is honoring the individual and trying to look for various ways for all individuals to be able to synthesize their knowledge differently, while learning important skills for life.
Head of School Michael G. Turner writes, "As we reflect on this year like no other, we are filled with pride in the efforts to ensure not only the Shipley community’s health and well-being, but also the ways in which colleagues have innovated our program to serve our students..." Read his full note for more.
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Students in Sunny Greenberg’s senior English elective explore complex 21st century topics through research, then give a TED-inspired presentation to peers and teachers. Here, two seniors discuss the 2016 Presidential Election.
How do you go back to school in the middle of a pandemic? How do you plan without a playbook? We look back to provide a glimpse of the efforts that went into opening school during the 2020-2021 year.
The racial reckoning of 2020 fast-tracked Shipley's efforts to draft a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Work on the plan was led by a Board of Trustees Task Force, and the plan's Preamble and Goals were approved by the Board in January of 2021.
A driven business leader with a deep passion for his community, Akinwole (Aki) Garrett ’00 has achieved remarkable success as a business leader, thanks to exceptional determination and a solid foundation from Shipley.
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Michael Turner was installed as Shipley’s 10th Head of School in September, 2019, and is already making a positive impact at the School. His profoundly positive experience as a lifer at Germantown Academy inspired him to pursue teaching after a few years of working in the business world, and he hasn’t looked back since. Learn more about Michael Turner and how he is making a difference at Shipley.
At Shipley, developing a Love of Learning is part of our Mission and extends beyond students to our teachers and non-teaching colleagues. We believe that great teachers must be avid learners and consistently work on their craft in meaningful ways. To that end, Shipley has established three programs in recent years to help support teachers in their efforts to be the best they can possibly be.
For eighth grade history teacher Mark Stetina, studying history is about more than just memorizing dates. Instead, he says, "I want my students to acknowledge their responsibility in integrating the voices and experiences of those who have been excluded from historical narratives.” Read more to learn about his class's study of the Revolutionary War and how students gave voice to the Conestoga Indians.
In Shipley’s Lower School, math class just isn’t what it used to be. Using the Singaporean math curriculum “Math in Focus,” students learn to grasp mathematical concepts by literally grasping objects (cubes, place value chips, fraction bars, and so forth) with their hands. The approach emphasizes working collaboratively and explaining process-in addition to giving numeric answers.
Students in Chris Oatts’ Advanced Music Composition and Production class don’t just learn about the theory and building blocks of writing music. Starting early in the year, the advanced music students compose songs that actually get played by Shipley’s music ensembles. Oatts, an experienced professional musician, knows that “The most fun part of being a composer is actually hearing your music playing.”
J.B. Loomis ’11 was one of the first women assigned to the USS Virginia, a nuclear-powered submarine at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The US Naval Academy graduate, who also earned a degree at the Naval Postgraduate School and completed training at Nuclear Power School, says Shipley gave her more than a solid academic foundation. Her teachers, she says, “held space for me to be unique. I was never siloed…”
During the summer after his junior year, Nathaniel Curtis ’98 decided to enroll in a pre-calculus course—a prerequisite for advanced physics. The decision would mark the beginning of the rest of his professional life, propelling him into a high-flying career as an engineer at Fortune 500 aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman. Learn more about Nathaniel Curtis and how Shipley helped shape his life.
Andrew Ramsey ’10 helped establish professional soccer club A.C. Milan’s Data Analytics Department. The experience inspired the founding of his own data analytics company, whose clients have consistently seen a 19 percent increase in point totals and have collectively won more than 100 trophies. The math program at Shipley provided a framework for solving and approaching problems, says Ramsey.
Steven Zhang ’18 is the Race Operations Engineer for the University of Michigan Solar Car Team, which has been designing, building, and racing the country’s fastest solar vehicles for the past 30 years. In his role, he oversees metals manufacturing and supply chain logistics for the 20-person team, which took third place in the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Learn more about Steven Zhang.
When the Tiongco family moved to the Main Line, they were looking for a school with small class sizes, an individualized educational experience, a strong community, and, as a family of Filipino descent, a school culture that celebrates diversity. Shipley checked all of the boxes. Now with two kids enrolled at the School, Shipley continues to deliver on its mission of Educational Excellence.
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The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.