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Using PowerSchool for student feedback

assignment, standards, and final grade comments

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Why Feedback?

Raise students' consciousness of the strengths of their work
Boost students' confidence and self-concept regarding personal strengths and abilities
Provide guidance on areas for further development of skills and enhancement of work
Enhance students' own judgment, understanding of assessment criteria (clear learning targets), and their ability to self-assess.

Sachse-Brown, Pat and Joanne Aldridge. “Feedback for Learning: Building Connections (C10)”. Standards Toolkit. N.d. Adapted from Facilitators Guide for Middle Years. Anne Davies. PDF file. Retrieved from http://standardstoolkit.k12.hi.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CCR.Protocol_1.Descriptive_Feedback_Strategies.pdf

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Types of Feedback

Descriptive

(or formative)

Specific information in the form of written comments, conversations or demonstrations that help the learner understand what he needs to do in order to improve.

Evaluative

(or summative)

A summary for the student of how well she has performed on a particular task or during a term. Often in the form of letter grades, numbers, check marks, or other descriptors or coded symbols.

Sachse-Brown, Pat and Joanne Aldridge. “Feedback for Learning: Building Connections (C10)”. Standards Toolkit. N.d. Adapted from Facilitators Guide for Middle Years. Anne Davies. PDF file. Retrieved from http://standardstoolkit.k12.hi.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CCR.Protocol_1.Descriptive_Feedback_Strategies.pdf

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Assignment Comments

What teacher enters:

What parents see:

Assignment comments are one way to provide formative feedback to your students. One benefit of using your PowerTeacher Gradebook for formative feedback is that both parents and students get the same information. This slide shows the relationship between what is entered in the PowerTeacher Gradebook and what appears on the PowerSchool web portal. Comments entered in this fashion will not appear on printed reports.

Remember, feedback before scores or grades is proven to have greater positive impact on student learning. Consider using assignment comments to give formative feedback in lieu of scores on practice work, and, whenever possible, allow time for student revision before a score is assigned.

Parents and students will be alerted to your comment on the web portal by a blue dot. Note that entering “collected” (green check mark) in the standards column will allow the standard to be displayed on the parent portal without entering a score.

“Never grade students while they are still learning.” - Alfie Kohn, 1994

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Standards Comments

What teacher enters:

What parents see:

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Final Grade Comments

What teacher enters:

What parents see:

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Useful Feedback...

Formative ->

“feedback”

Is clear and specific
Is directly related to learning target
Is well-timed
Provides a recipe for future action
Encourages thought
Is encouraging to the learner

Summative ->

“feed-forward”

Highlights skills that will be beneficial in future student work
Focuses on growth
Encourages reflection