Assessment Approaches

The following rubric was used to assess the curricular components of the task. It’s not the greatest rubric in the world, but it served the purpose of giving the students an idea of what success would look like for their project. The skills components were done in a reflective way where students were asked to reflect on their learning. The questions are below the rubric on this page.

Curriculum Rubric for Culminating Task

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
I am able to determine if space exploration is a benefit to society and justify my reasoning with evidence.	Space exploration is justified to a limited extent. Students have a limited amount of evidence to support their proposal.	Space exploration is justified to some extent and students have some evidence to support their proposal.	Space exploration is justified to a considerable extent. Students have a considerable amount of evidence to support their proposal.	Space exploration is justified to a high degree. Students have a large amount of convincing evidence to support their proposal.
I can able to carry out investigations about solar system objects using a variety of sources including my own observations.	Students demonstrate limited ability to investigate solar system objects.	Students demonstrate some ability to investigate solar system objects.	Students demonstrate a considerable ability to investigate solar system objects.	Students demonstrate a high degree of ability to investigate solar system objects.
I can explain how different technologies are used in exploring the night sky and the solar system	Students can demonstrate current and future technologies might be used in the exploration of the solar system with limited appropriateness.	Students can demonstrate current and future technologies might be used in the exploration of the solar system with some appropriateness.	Students can demonstrate current and future technologies might be used in the exploration of the solar system with considerable appropriateness.	Students can demonstrate current and future technologies might be used in the exploration of the solar system with a high degree of appropriateness.
I can describe the components and characteristics of the solar system.	Students can describe the characteristics of their chosen solar system object with limited depth.	Students can describe the characteristics of their chosen solar system object with some depth.	Students can describe the characteristics of their chosen solar system object with considerable depth.	Students can describe the characteristics of their chosen solar system object with a high degree of depth.

For the skills component, students were asked to create reflections on the following questions, that incorporated both the curriculum expectations and the skills from NDPL. Some students made videos, some others made audio reflections, and yet others made written reflections based on what suited their style.

Reflections on our Solar System Slam Project.
Please consider the following questions. When you are ready, make a short 2-3 min video using an iPad with your group about what you think about them.

What did you learn about the solar system from the project? (Consider our learning goals from the unit.)
What did you learn about collaboration from the project? (Both with your partners, and the other class)
What did you learn about creativity in the production of a learning product?
What did you learn about communication?

Next: Learning