Exploring+Assessment+For+Learning+in+the+Digital+Classroom

Session Description:
While the use of digital spaces continues to expand and talk of assessment abounds, these two ideas have not met often enough in ways that can actually transform learning. This workshop will explore how digital spaces can be utilized for assessment FOR learning. Evaluation and portfolio use will also be discussed but the focus will be on developing spaces where students can learn from and with each other. Creating these spaces is now easy, using them for something beyond posting information requires thought and a clear purpose.

You will learn: 1. the general ways in which technology supports assessment FOR learning 2. to maximize and structure interactions to allow for deep understanding and meta-cognitive expression 3. to create new or utilize existing learning spaces to create environments to to support student learning.

Presenter Bio: Dean Shareski, Saskatchewan, Canada
Dean Shareski is a Digital Learning Consultant for Prairie South School Division in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dean works with teachers and students in understanding the power of the Read/Write Web. Dean is strong advocate of design and storytelling and has led many workshops locally, nationally and internationally. He's been modeling much of this on his own blog ([|ideasandthoughts.org]) for almost 5 years. This is one space, among many, where he connects to the world and teaches and learns in ways not possible only a few years ago. Understanding what this means for education, keeps him up at night.

He also is a sessional lecturer at the University of Regina where he's developed innovative instructional practices for pre-service teachers.

Dean lives in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan with his wife, three children and two annoying dogs where he dreams of summer when he can spend much of his days on the golf course.