Day Fifty One: PD Day

I went to a PD day on Assessment.  How we can bring on the spot and individualized assessment into the classroom.  How to use formative as well as summative assessment.  Sumative would be like the PAT (provincial achievement test) and formative is what you do in the classroom like anecdotals, quizes etc.  Individual learning is very important for this district.  They tell us to teach to the student, and not to the test (mainly the PATs).  So we hear about this and get some ideas about it and then the superintendent comes on and says that Alberta is tops in the country and the world.  Where do they get those stats? From non-individualized testing like the PAT's Diplomas etc.  I wonder then how much individualized learning is important if the superintendent thinks these stats are important enough to begin her speech with?  It seemed hypocritical...but what do I know?  Everyone says that education is changing in the direction of individuals, but the mandate from the Education Minister is still these standardized tests.  And what are we testing anyway?  Reading comprehension or the subject that the test is about?  Because if a student can't comprehend the question, they aren't going to get the answer.  So how can you create a 'test' to show what you know?  How about a flexible project?  or test?  I don't care what format you put it in, it needs to be flexible.  In the real world people get to work to their strengths, but not in school.  We all have to work to the standard.  Anyway, I did not find the PD day very useful.