Culturally Responsive Science Curriculum

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Assessment

 

With the merger of cultural knowledge and science, and with the shift in science education from science as only content to science as a complex combination of attitudes, inquiry skills, and conceptual understanding come necessary shifts in assessment. In other words, if we truly value student growth and understanding of cultural knowledge, then we must find ways to assess such knowledge and we must resist the temptation to merely treat cultural knowledge as a vehicle for science learning. If we truly value student abilities to: reason scientifically; apply science learning in real life situations; and understand the contexts and constraints under which science functions, then we must assess in all those areas as well. And finally, if we recognize that learning includes the process of exploration and the student’s autonomous construction of meaning, then we must allow for diverse pathways to and demonstrations of understanding.

This is a tall order. We are making progress with authentic assessment of all aspects of science, but have less experience with the issues of assessing cultural behavior, knowledge and values—things that are all critically important to Native communities. The following chart offers a look at some promising practices with regard to culturally relevant assessment, as does the sample assessment from the Alaska Science Performance Standards. This look however, is admittedly tentative, both because our knowledge of traditional assessment practices is naive and inadequate, and because our experience with authentic, standards-based assessment in classrooms is evolving but not secure. With these significant limitations in mind, we offer the following information and we also encourage you to consult both local experts and suggested readings for more insight.

Promising Assessment Strategies

Promising Assessment Strategies

 

Alaska Science Standards: Assessment Ideas

In an effort to aid teachers in their transition to standards-based, authentic assessment, the Translating Standards to Practice: A Teacher’s Guide to the Use and Assessment of the Alaska Science Standards (http://ankn.uaf.edu/translating) document includes both sample assessment ideas and expanded sample assessment ideas. The following examples illustrate the nature of these ideas and are included to prompt further thinking about culturally-responsive curriculum assessment.

Alaska Science Standards: Assessment Ideas

Alaska Science Standards: Assessment Ideas

Alaska Science Standards: Assessment Ideas

Alaska Science Standards: Assessment Ideas

Alaska Science Standards: Assessment Ideas

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