Topic: Using self and group assessment in applying midpoint and slope formula in a nonroutine problem.

Grade Level Category: 7-12

Strategy(ies): Individual and group student self assessments, instructor observation checksheet, and rubric.

Objective(s) Being Assessed and/or Purposes for the Assessment:
Applying midpoint and slope formulas.
Graphing quadrilaterals on rectangular coordinate systems.
Willingness and ability to make and test conjectures.
Communication in mathematics.

Materials Required:
Graph paper, rulers and worksheet 1.2, nonroutine problem.
Individual and group process checksheets and instructor observation checksheet.

Description of the Activity:
Students are to be given both the individual and group process checksheet. The teacher needs to discuss the process sheets with the students so that they are familiar with how they are to assess their individual and group work.

Students are to work in groups of three to four. Following the directions on worksheet 1.2. Encourage students to verify their conjectures.

While the students work in groups the teacher is free to observe one or more groups using the observation checksheet.

As the groups complete the assignment, each student completes the individual process checksheet by graphing their self assessment for each of the four areas identified on the checksheet. Appoint one student to compute the average of all the group's responses for each of the four areas on the group process checksheet and to graph the averages in the appropriate places. Each group keeps only one group assessment checksheet.

I collect the individual and group process checksheets each quarter. As a result, the same checksheet may be used for up to ten activities. I have the students date the x-axis for each activity completed.

A rubric is included for grading the group responses to the problem in worksheet 1.2. This rubric is appropriate for any routine/nonroutine problem.

Reproducible Pages:
Instructor Observation Checksheet
Individual Process Checksheet
Nonroutine Problem
Scoring Rubric

Management Tips:
After the first time the students use the individual and group process checksheets the procedure becomes routine. My students know automatically that they must do a self assessment after every group activity.

Reference(s) of Sources(s):
The idea of process checks for groups is common in industries that use total quality management techniques. Many texts on total quality or total quality management will address group processes. Usually the term assessment is not mentioned but the processes described are assessments.

One text that includes the nonroutine problem used in the assessment is: Brown, Richard G. Alternative Assessment. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1992, 1-4.



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