. Stommel remet en question la fa\u00e7on dont les \u00e9l\u00e8ves sont souvent m\u00e9fiants en mati\u00e8re d’\u00e9valuation et propose des syst\u00e8mes de notation qui sont plus compatissants ou qui tendent vers l’absence de notation. Je voulais vraiment aligner mes pratiques sur l’\u00e9valuation et j’avais enfin trouv\u00e9 un point de d\u00e9part sous forme de \u00ab qu\u00eate \u00bb.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00a0\u00bb3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb min_height=\u00a0\u00bb100px\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb3_5″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_heading title=\u00a0\u00bbLa qu\u00eate pour mieux faire\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSub heading\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb title_level=\u00a0\u00bbh2″ title_font_size=\u00a0\u00bb20px\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbDescription\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-25px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb||0px|||\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
Ce n’est pas un quiz, ce n’est pas un test, c’est une qu\u00eate. Au lieu d’\u00e9valuer les connaissances des \u00e9l\u00e8ves dans le cadre d\u2019\u00e9valuations comp\u00e9titives typiques qui mesurent leur capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 r\u00e9gurgiter des noms et des dates, nous faisons des qu\u00eates. Les qu\u00eates sont des \u00e9valuations collaboratives \u00e0 livre ouvert qui mettent l’accent sur l’inclusivit\u00e9 et le processus de production d’une r\u00e9ponse plut\u00f4t que sur le r\u00e9sultat. Elles mettent l’accent sur la r\u00e9flexion, la recherche et la collaboration plut\u00f4t que sur la m\u00e9moire, l’individualisme et la comp\u00e9tition.<\/span><\/p>\nLa premi\u00e8re fois que j’ai pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 le concept de la qu\u00eate \u00e0 mes \u00e9l\u00e8ves, je les ai laiss\u00e9s voter sur diff\u00e9rentes options d’\u00e9valuation, dont la qu\u00eate. Beaucoup d’entre eux en ont vu les avantages, mais certains ont pens\u00e9 que c’\u00e9tait simplement \u00ab plus facile \u00bb qu’un test.\u00a0 Apr\u00e8s avoir fait quelques qu\u00eates et augment\u00e9 le niveau de rigueur et de pens\u00e9e critique dans les questions, presque tous, si ce n’est tous, ont encore vot\u00e9 pour la qu\u00eate comme m\u00e9thode d\u2019\u00e9valuation. L’assiduit\u00e9 a g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement augment\u00e9.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPour faciliter les qu\u00eates, deux \u00e9l\u00e8ves se portent volontaires pour aider les \u00e9l\u00e8ves de la classe \u00e0 s’organiser et \u00e0 se r\u00e9partir les responsabilit\u00e9s li\u00e9es \u00e0 la r\u00e9alisation du travail. Ils aident \u00e9galement les \u00e9l\u00e8ves \u00e0 se retrouver et \u00e0 utiliser leurs connaissances collectives pour obtenir une r\u00e9ponse et une note finale qui peuvent \u00eatre d\u00e9battues afin de trouver un consensus. Les leaders contribuent \u00e0 la m\u00e9diation des opinions et s’assurent que les voix de chacun sont entendues et respect\u00e9es. Les \u00e9l\u00e8ves peuvent constater que m\u00eame dans une communaut\u00e9 qui travaille ensemble, les dirigeants et dirigeantes doivent se lever et d\u00e9fendre ce qui est juste, et qu’ils ont ce r\u00f4le parce qu’ils plaident pour le bien commun, l’inclusion et l’exemplarit\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb2_5″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb text_text_color=\u00a0\u00bb#FFFFFF\u00a0\u00bb background_color=\u00a0\u00bb#5B4BA4″ custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb10px|0px|10px|0px|true|true\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px||0px||true|true\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb0px||0px||true|true\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|phone\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb15px|20px|15px|20px|true|true\u00a0\u00bb border_radii=\u00a0\u00bbon|10px|10px|10px|10px\u00a0\u00bb border_width_all=\u00a0\u00bb2px\u00a0\u00bb border_color_all=\u00a0\u00bbgcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577″ global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{%22gcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577%22:%91%22border_color_all%22%93}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
Apr\u00e8s chaque qu\u00eate, j’appelle les parents ou tuteurs des deux leaders qui aident la classe \u00e0 r\u00e9ussir en donnant l’exemple d’une communication efficace et respectueuse, d’une \u00e9thique de travail et de strat\u00e9gies de collaboration. C’est ce que j’appelle le \u00ab Golden call home \u00bb (l\u2019appel d\u2019or \u00e0 la maison). Les \u00e9l\u00e8ves volontaires savent que cet appel est pr\u00e9vu. Pour les \u00e9l\u00e8ves, cet appel ren\u00e9gocie la fa\u00e7on dont ils voient l’\u00e9cole et leurs actions \u00e0 l’\u00e9cole qui ont un effet sur leur vie familiale et sur le monde. Pour les parents ou tuteurs, il red\u00e9finit ce que nous faisons r\u00e9ellement dans les \u00e9coles, \u00e0 savoir enseigner aux \u00e9l\u00e8ves qu’ils sont appr\u00e9ci\u00e9s pour bien plus que ce qu’ils produisent. Certaines de ces discussions sont les moments les plus m\u00e9morables de ma carri\u00e8re et dont je suis le plus fier, et il s’agit simplement de communiquer les r\u00e9ussites de mes \u00e9l\u00e8ves \u00e0 leurs parents. En r\u00e9alit\u00e9, c’est bien plus complexe qu’aucun chiffre ne pourrait l’expliquer, et dans cette complexit\u00e9, nous commen\u00e7ons \u00e0 expliquer davantage ce que nous faisons et essayons de faire respecter dans les \u00e9coles publiques.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00a0\u00bb2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb2_5″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb text_text_color=\u00a0\u00bb#FFFFFF\u00a0\u00bb background_color=\u00a0\u00bb#5B4BA4″ custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb10px|0px|0px|0px|false|true\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px||0px||true|true\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb0px||0px||true|true\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|desktop\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb15px|20px|15px|20px|true|true\u00a0\u00bb border_radii=\u00a0\u00bbon|10px|10px|10px|10px\u00a0\u00bb border_width_all=\u00a0\u00bb2px\u00a0\u00bb border_color_all=\u00a0\u00bbgcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577″ global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{%22gcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577%22:%91%22border_color_all%22%93}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
Au cours de certaines qu\u00eates, j’ai entendu des rires dans ma salle pendant les \u00e9valuations, de m\u00eame que le brouhaha de la communication et de l’apprentissage. Entendez-vous des rires dans votre salle de classe lorsque vous \u00e9valuez?\u00a0 Si ce n’est pas le cas, demandez-vous pourquoi. Il est peut-\u00eatre temps de faire un changement. Personnellement, je suis heureux de l’avoir fait.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb3_5″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbDescription\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-25px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb||0px|||\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
La qu\u00eate est non seulement un processus \u00e0 \u00ab livre ouvert \u00bb, mais aussi \u00e0 sources ouvertes. Les \u00e9l\u00e8ves d\u00e9cident eux-m\u00eames des sources qu’ils souhaitent utiliser et doivent parfois justifier leur utilisation de ces sources lorsqu’ils r\u00e9pondent. Ils ont leur mot \u00e0 dire sur la m\u00e9thode qu’ils souhaitent utiliser pour repr\u00e9senter leurs connaissances et m\u00eame, dans certains cas, sur la nature et la port\u00e9e des questions orient\u00e9es vers la r\u00e9flexion critique qu’ils abordent en fonction des aspects de la question initiale auxquels ils attachent de l’importance. Lorsqu’ils sont bloqu\u00e9s, les \u00e9l\u00e8ves peuvent m\u00eame poser des questions aux adultes pr\u00e9sents dans la salle, car m\u00eame l’enseignant est un membre de leur communaut\u00e9 qui est \u00ab une \u00bb source, mais pas \u00ab l\u2019unique \u00bb source des connaissances. Lorsqu’ils me posent des questions au cours d’une qu\u00eate, j’y r\u00e9ponds en utilisant la dialectique socratique, en remettant en question leurs hypoth\u00e8ses et en cultivant de nouvelles questions. Les \u00e9l\u00e8ves travaillent tous ensemble \u00e0 la r\u00e9alisation d’un objectif, ils repr\u00e9sentent leurs connaissances comme ils l’entendent (ce qui respecte la diversit\u00e9 des litt\u00e9raties) et ils utilisent les connaissances qu’ils appr\u00e9cient et y r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissent.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-30px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb0px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|phone\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
Lorsque nous faisons des qu\u00eates, tous les \u00e9l\u00e8ves r\u00e9ussissent mieux. La salle est anim\u00e9e par des discussions, les appareils bourdonnent pour les bonnes raisons et de nombreuses personnes communiquent leurs id\u00e9es et en d\u00e9battent tout en \u00e9tant encourag\u00e9es \u00e0 faire leur propre affaire. <\/span><\/p>\nM\u00eame les \u00e9l\u00e8ves qui pensaient conna\u00eetre les 2\/10 de la mati\u00e8re en arrivant quittent la qu\u00eate en ayant appris des choses et des m\u00e9thodes de r\u00e9ussite de leurs pairs. La qu\u00eate met davantage l’accent sur l’\u00e9valuation POUR l’apprentissage et COMME apprentissage, de sorte que les \u00e9l\u00e8ves peuvent prendre le temps qu\u2019il faut pour la r\u00e9aliser et apprennent en m\u00eame temps qu’ils sont \u00e9valu\u00e9s.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBien que cette approche refl\u00e8te de saines pratiques d’\u00e9valuation qui vont dans le sens de la d\u00e9colonisation de nos salles de classe et qui correspondent \u00e0 l’engagement du syst\u00e8me d\u2019\u00e9ducation envers l\u2019application des recommandations de la Commission de v\u00e9rit\u00e9 et de r\u00e9conciliation, je dois toujours donner une note num\u00e9rique aux \u00e9l\u00e8ves, comme le stipulent le minist\u00e8re de l’\u00c9ducation du Manitoba et mon contrat. En faisant en sorte que cette note soit davantage ax\u00e9e sur l’\u00e9valuation POUR l\u2019apprentissage et COMME apprentissage, je peux contribuer \u00e0 r\u00e9duire l’\u00e9cart entre ce que cette note signifie et ce que je, ce que nous, voulons qu’elle repr\u00e9sente. C’est un \u00e9l\u00e9ment de ma fa\u00e7on de faire que je d\u00e9couvre encore et avec lequel je continue \u00e0 lutter. Pour apporter des changements significatifs, j’ai d\u00fb me tourner vers ma communaut\u00e9 de coll\u00e8gues.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=\u00a0\u00bbTravailler dans les limites d’un syst\u00e8me impr\u00e9gn\u00e9 de colonialisme\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSub heading\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb title_level=\u00a0\u00bbh2″ title_font_size=\u00a0\u00bb20px\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-30px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb0px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|phone\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
En demandant l’avis des \u00e9l\u00e8ves et, dans certains cas, en int\u00e9grant leurs suggestions sur la fa\u00e7on d’am\u00e9liorer leurs performances et les qu\u00eates, je suis devenu un meilleur enseignant. Mais je n’avais pas seulement besoin de leurs commentaires, j’avais aussi besoin de ma communaut\u00e9 si je voulais am\u00e9liorer mes pratiques \u00e0 la lumi\u00e8re des d\u00e9fis de demain.<\/span><\/p>\nJe dirais aux enseignantes et enseignants ou \u00e0 toute personne qui souhaitent abandonner le syst\u00e8me de notation, modifier son approche ou op\u00e9rer un changement de quelque mani\u00e8re que ce soit, qu’apr\u00e8s la premi\u00e8re \u00e9tape, celle des petits pas, la deuxi\u00e8me \u00e9tape consiste \u00e0 trouver ou \u00e0 cr\u00e9er sa communaut\u00e9. Trouvez des alli\u00e9s et partagez vos qu\u00eates, vos id\u00e9es et votre soutien. C’est ainsi que le personnel enseignant peut changer les choses, en suivant les instructions que nous donnons et en permettant \u00e0 la communaut\u00e9 d’am\u00e9liorer nos pratiques. Les premi\u00e8res qu\u00eates \u00e9taient tr\u00e8s diff\u00e9rentes de celles que je donne aujourd’hui, et elles continueront d’\u00e9voluer pour r\u00e9pondre aux besoins des \u00e9l\u00e8ves et de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Dans mon \u00e9cole, nous avons constitu\u00e9 un groupe d’enseignants et d\u2019enseignantes, de conseillers et de conseill\u00e8res en orientation, de consultants et de consultantes, d’administrateurs et d\u2019administratrices et de membres de la communaut\u00e9 qui se r\u00e9unissent de temps en temps au d\u00eener pour manger des p\u00e2tisseries et discuter de ce que nous faisons, de ce que nous pensons et voyons dans nos domaines, et de la fa\u00e7on dont nous am\u00e9liorons nos cours pour nos \u00e9l\u00e8ves et pour l\u2019avenir. Outre la force et le soutien que ce groupe m\u2019apporte, il m’a \u00e9galement montr\u00e9 que je n’\u00e9tais pas seul. Beaucoup d’autres personnes voient les m\u00eames probl\u00e8mes li\u00e9s \u00e0 la notation et \u00e0 notre syst\u00e8me d’\u00e9ducation colonial et veulent changer les choses. Je ne suis pas seul. Vous n’\u00eates pas seul. L’une des le\u00e7ons les plus importantes de l’histoire m’a \u00e9t\u00e9 enseign\u00e9e par d’autres, par mes \u00e9l\u00e8ves, afin que je puisse l’enseigner \u00e0 mon tour \u00e0 mes futurs \u00e9l\u00e8ves.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=\u00a0\u00bbAu sujet de l\u2019auteur\u00a0\u00bb admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbSub heading\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb title_level=\u00a0\u00bbh2″ title_font_size=\u00a0\u00bb20px\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.4″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-30px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_tablet=\u00a0\u00bb0px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_phone=\u00a0\u00bb0px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin_last_edited=\u00a0\u00bbon|phone\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/SamirHathout-1.png\")
<\/span>Samir est un mari et un p\u00e8re.\u00a0 Il enseigne \u00e0 Winnipeg depuis une quinzaine d’ann\u00e9es au niveau des classes de deuxi\u00e8me cycle.\u00a0 Bien qu’il ait pass\u00e9 la plupart de son temps \u00e0 enseigner les sciences sociales, il a \u00e9galement enseign\u00e9 les math\u00e9matiques, les sciences, le fran\u00e7ais langue seconde et la philosophie.\u00a0 Dans ses temps libres, il aime \u00eatre \u00e0 l’ext\u00e9rieur avec sa famille et faire du camping.<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
La qu\u00eate pour abandonner les syst\u00e8mes de notation Samir HathoutWe have a long history in this place.\u00a0 Whether you call it Turtle Island or North America, we have a long, flourishing, Nous avons une longue histoire ici. Qu’on l’appelle l’\u00cele de la Tortue ou l’Am\u00e9rique du Nord, notre histoire est longue, florissante et diversifi\u00e9e. Nous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":6075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" admin_label=\"Salon Article\" _builder_version=\"4.27.0\" da_disable_devices=\"off|off|off\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" da_is_popup=\"off\" da_exit_intent=\"off\" da_has_close=\"on\" da_alt_close=\"off\" da_dark_close=\"off\" da_not_modal=\"on\" da_is_singular=\"off\" da_with_loader=\"off\" da_has_shadow=\"on\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"2_5,3_5\" admin_label=\"row\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"top_left\" background_repeat=\"repeat\" width=\"86.4%\" min_height=\"456.5px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"title\/author\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" min_height=\"22.8px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
The Quest to Ungrade<\/h1>
Samir Hathout<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Description\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
We have a long history in this place.\u00a0 Whether you call it Turtle Island or North America, we have a long, flourishing, diverse history.\u00a0 We also have a colonial history--a history filled with select sanitized stories that attempt to erase our history of assimilation and genocide. This is a history that tries to ignore a legacy that has produced over 6000 unmarked graves of children at Residential Schools and of civic institutions that have resulted in ongoing violence against Inuit, M\u00e9tis and First Nations women and girls, and those in the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/letters-66951_1280.jpg\" title_text=\"letters-66951_1280\" show_bottom_space=\"off\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"79.6%\" custom_margin=\"|||57px||\" custom_margin_tablet=\"|||0px|false|false\" custom_margin_phone=\"|||0px|false|false\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\"row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"top_left\" background_repeat=\"repeat\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" custom_padding=\"|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Description\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-70px||||false|false\" custom_margin_tablet=\"-25px||||false|false\" custom_margin_phone=\"-25px||||false|false\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
While some people are undeniably more grievously impacted by colonization make no mistake we are all affected by colonization. Colonization and the arrival of the West on Turtle Island has affected our worldview, our history, our languages, our laws, and the way we live and interact with the world. This results in systems that reify this worldview. This is particularly evident in our education system where we educate and assess in ways that ensure the maintenance of the current colonial system.\u00a0 Following the ideas of Marie Battiste, we need to move away from systems that uphold colonial thinking, and move towards holistic, lifelong, purposeful, experiential, communal, and spiritual learning. In order to do this we need to interrogate our curriculum, classrooms systems, pedagogy, and assessment. Current assessment practices risk upholding singular notions of Truth, individualizing learning, and naturalizing competition. It seems to me, if we rethink our assessment, our pedagogy and classroom systems will necessarily follow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=\"Learning More Than History \" admin_label=\"Sub heading\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_level=\"h2\" title_font_size=\"20px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Description\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-25px||||false|false\" custom_padding=\"||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
I often teach Canadian History. Unfortunately History is very misunderstood and many\u00a0 students dread their first history class, entering the room already anxious.\u00a0 They are afraid of the idea of regurgitating stories, dates and names, and not everyone's stories, dates and names mind you.\u00a0 While some students are afraid of how history does not represent them, all are terrified that at the end they will have to sum it all up in a high stakes exam, test or presentation that will ultimately stress their capacity to memorize and write. In the end, and this is true of all classes and not just those in Social Studies, their efforts, their entire experience and learning trajectory, their family stories, their essays, thoughts and questions, their growth and dreams for the future will ultimately produce\u2026 a number. This number reductively communicates the degree to which the student has received and represents their retention of the prescribed curriculum in the prescribed format.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>But, this system of reducing students to numbers does not align with the broader purpose of a good public school education. How we assess our students is ultimately connected to how we teach, treat, and include them in our public schools. <\/span>That is, if we assess students in our history classes on their ability to recall information, we are suggesting: that there is a singular version of history; that we do not value critical thinking; and that we think learning can be encapsulated by a summative assessment. Whereas, if our pedagogy recognizes that history is only ever an interpretation of the past, that students actively engage with evidence to develop their own interpretations, and that learning history necessarily involves critical and historical thinking, then our classroom practice and assessment should also follow these principles. <\/span>The focus on percentages pipelines students into futures of individualism, competition and neoliberal ideals fomented through years of exposure to this tacitly accepted anchor on our public education system, the numerical grade.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>Public school education is intended to be the great equalizer, it is supposed to be for all, for the benefit of all, and for the sustainability of a flourishing democratic society and mother earth.\u00a0 As a teacher, time and time again, I would see students' hopes and dreams dashed away as they saw their grades come in and they \u2018did the math\u2019 only to realize that they had no numerical chance of passing.\u00a0 For others, on the other end of the grade spectrum, doing well was somehow never well enough.\u00a0 As the bar to enter programs and faculties slowly creeps up and up, students\u2019 slightly deficient grades dash their dreams for a future at universities or colleges that are themselves moving away from these methods of assessment; recognizing the inherent bias and deficiency in producing students that do not continue to ask questions after they have been given the answer.\u00a0 I saw in my classes how my assessment pitted student against student as they physically erected dividers between them before doing tests.\u00a0 These literal dividers were emblematic of a system built on competition, and a view of learning as an individualized feat. If it takes a community to raise a child, what do our community practices do to them? How do our modes of assessment and grading normalize systems that do harm--privileging ranking over learning? <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=\"My Learning Journey\" admin_label=\"Sub heading\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_level=\"h2\" title_font_size=\"20px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Description\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-25px||||false|false\" custom_padding=\"||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
As teachers, we all have the ability to make little changes in our classrooms, our little zones of nominal autonomy.\u00a0 We can make changes about how we treat students when they enter the room, how we use their names and preferred pronouns, how the class is set up to be welcoming and accessible to all, or maybe even the languages that they see on the walls or hear when they are welcomed.\u00a0 If the connection between grading and teaching is inextricable, then for me the first step to making my assessment more decolonized, equitable, fair, and socially just was to begin with how I treated the students in class daily.\u00a0 I do not treat them like a number. I make my classes more welcoming through a pedagogical foundation of caring, inquiry, and inclusion. I make just a little more time for student voice and direction everyday.\u00a0 My first step was a baby one. It was easy for them and it was easy for me. Then I took the time to observe and feel how simply making my class more welcoming and student centered had such positive and warming affects on my students, how they interacted with each other, myself and the learning environment\/experience.\u00a0 That act alone helped my students attend, reduced classroom management issues and made students more open to each other\u2019s narratives as they began to hear them and see them reflected around them more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>Although I started with tiny steps, the positive impact that it had on my class was clear and it set the foundation for me to continue to make more changes to my classroom practices, to make my classroom practices, pedagogy and my assessment align. For me, this journey was informed by the work of <\/span>Jesse Stomme<\/span>l<\/span><\/a>. Stommel\u2019s work challenges the way students are often distrusted in assessment, and advances grading systems that are more compassionate, or move towards ungrading.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I really wanted to align my practices and assessment and finally I had a starting point, and it came in the form of \u2018A Quest\u2019.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"3_5,2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" min_height=\"100px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_heading title=\"Questing to Do Better \" admin_label=\"Sub heading\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_level=\"h2\" title_font_size=\"20px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Description\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-25px||||false|false\" custom_padding=\"||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
It\u2019s not a quiz, it is not a test, it's a Quest.\u00a0 Instead of assessing students' knowledge in the typical competitive assessment <\/span>OF<\/span><\/i> learning that measures their ability to regurgitate names and dates, we do Quests. Quests are collaborative open book\/source assessments that focus on inclusivity and the process of producing an answer rather than just on the outcome.\u00a0 These center thinking, inquiry and collaboration over recall, individualism and competition.<\/span><\/p>The first time I introduced my classes to the Quest, I let them vote on various assessment options--the Quest being one option. Many of them saw the benefits and some just thought of it as\u00a0 simply being \u2018easier\u2019 than a test.\u00a0 After doing a few Quests and increasing the level of rigor and critical thinking in the questions, almost all, if not all, still voted for doing a Quest and attendance usually went up.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>To help facilitate the quests, two students volunteer as leaders to help the students in the class organize and divide the responsibility of completing the Quest.\u00a0 They also help the students get back together and use their collective knowledge for a final answer and grade that can be debated to find consensus.\u00a0 The leaders assist in mediating opinions and making sure everyone\u2019s voices are heard and respected.\u00a0 Students can see that even in a community working together, leaders have to stand up and champion what is right, and that they are leaders because they are championing our collective good, inclusivity and modeling respect for all.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#FFFFFF\" background_color=\"#5B4BA4\" custom_margin=\"10px|0px|10px|0px|true|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"0px||0px||true|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"0px||0px||true|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"15px|20px|15px|20px|true|true\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"2px\" border_color_all=\"gcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577\" global_colors_info=\"{%22gcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577%22:%91%22border_color_all%22%93}\"]<\/p>
After each Quest, I phone the caregivers of the two class leaders that help navigate the class to success, modeling effective and respectful communication, work ethic and collaborative strategies. I refer to this as the Golden call home. The student volunteers know this call is coming. To the students the call renegotiates how they see the school and their actions in school impacting their home life and the world.\u00a0 To their caregivers it redefines what we actually do in schools, that we teach students that they are valued for more than what they produce.\u00a0 Some of these discussions are the proudest and most memorable moments of my career, and it is simply communicating the achievements of my students to their parents.\u00a0 In reality this is so much more complex than any number could possibly explain, and in its complexity it begins to explain more what we are doing and trying to uphold in public schools. <\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"2_5,3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#FFFFFF\" background_color=\"#5B4BA4\" custom_margin=\"10px|0px|0px|0px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"0px||0px||true|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"0px||0px||true|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" custom_padding=\"15px|20px|15px|20px|true|true\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"2px\" border_color_all=\"gcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577\" global_colors_info=\"{%22gcid-2a389ecc-cc14-424c-bc8f-879686771577%22:%91%22border_color_all%22%93}\"]<\/p>
During some Quests I have heard laughter in my room during assessment along with the buzz of communication and learning.\u00a0 Do you hear laughter in your room when you assess?\u00a0 If not, ask yourself why not, and maybe it's time to make a change; I am sure happy I did.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Description\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-25px||||false|false\" custom_padding=\"||0px|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
Not only is the Quest \u2018openbook\u2019, it's open source.\u00a0 Students decide independently what sources they value to use and sometimes have to justify their use when answering.\u00a0 Students have input in the method that they would like to represent their knowledge and even in some cases the nature and scope of the critically thinking oriented questions that they are addressing depending on what aspects of the original question they value.\u00a0 When stumped, the students can even ask the adults in the room questions, because even the teacher is a member of their community who is \u201ca\u201d source of knowledge, but not \u201cthe\u201d source of knowledge.\u00a0 When they ask me questions during a Quest I answer them using the Socratic Dialectic, challenging their assumptions and cultivating new questions.\u00a0 Students all work together towards one goal, they represent their knowledge how they see fit (which respects and invites varied literacies) and they use and reflect on the knowledge that they value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-30px||||false|false\" custom_margin_tablet=\"0px||||false|false\" custom_margin_phone=\"0px||||false|false\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
When we do Quests there is more academic success for all.\u00a0 When we do Quests, the room is alive with discussion, devices are humming for the right reasons, and many people are communicating and debating their ideas as they are encouraged to just kinda do what they do.<\/span><\/p>Even the students that thought that they knew 2\/10 in their mind when they came in, leave the Quest knowing more and having the methods of success modeled to them by their peers. The Quest moves the focus of assessment more towards assessment FOR and AS learning, so the time it takes can be left up to students as they are learning while they are being assessed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Despite this method of assessment reflecting sound assessment practices that are moving towards decolonizing our classroom spaces and that reflect education\u2019s commitment to the TRC,I still have to give students a numerical grade, as outlined by Manitoba Education and by my contract. By making the focus of that grade more oriented towards assessment FOR and AS learning, I can help minimize the gap between what that grade means and what I, what we, want it to represent.\u00a0 This is an element of my practice where I am still learning and continue to struggle with, and in order to make meaningful changes, I needed to turn to my teaching community. <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=\"Within the Confines of A System Steeped in Colonialism \" admin_label=\"Sub heading\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_level=\"h2\" title_font_size=\"20px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-30px||||false|false\" custom_margin_tablet=\"0px||||false|false\" custom_margin_phone=\"0px||||false|false\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p>
By asking for feedback from students and in some cases incorporating students' suggestions on how to make their performance and the Quests better, I became a better teacher.\u00a0 But I needed more than just their suggestions, I needed my community too if I wanted to raise my practices for tomorrow\u2019s challenges.<\/span><\/p>For any teacher or anyone trying to ungrade, change their practice, or make a change in any way; I would say to them after step one; baby steps, step two is to find or create your community.\u00a0 Find your people and share your quests, ideas and support.\u00a0 That\u2019s how teachers can make change, by following the directions we give and allow the community to raise our practice up too.\u00a0 The first Quests look very different than those I give today, and will continue to change to meet the needs of students and society.\u00a0 In my school, we have cultivated a group of teachers, guidance counselors, consultants, administrators and community stakeholders that get together every once in a while at lunch to eat baked goods and chat about what we are doing, what we are\u00a0 thinking about and seeing in our fields, and how we are making our classes better for our students and tomorrow.\u00a0 Other than the strength and support that this group brings, it also showed me that I am not alone. Many other people see the problems with grading and our colonial education system and want to make change.\u00a0 I am not alone. You are not alone. One of the most important lessons in history was taught to me by others, by my students, so that I can teach it back to future theme.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=\"About the Author\" admin_label=\"Sub heading\" _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_level=\"h2\" title_font_size=\"20px\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.27.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"-30px||||false|false\" custom_margin_tablet=\"0px||||false|false\" custom_margin_phone=\"0px||||false|false\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<\/p>
\u00a0<\/span>Samir is a husband and father.\u00a0 He has been teaching in Winnipeg for about 15 years at the senior years level.\u00a0 While he has spent most of his time teaching Social Studies, he has also taught Math, Science, ELA and Philosophy.\u00a0 In his spare time he likes being outside with his family and camping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[974,108],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-fr","category-salon-fr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6088"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6093,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6088\/revisions\/6093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssencressc.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}