I have spent a lot of time in my MALXD graduate program exploring the importance of assessment data. I can tell you all the reasons why it is a valuable tool for providing feedback, evaluating our teaching, and informing curriculum. Data and assessment certainly go together, but for me, putting it all into practice has […]
My final project for UX 835 Accessibility and Design was an accessibility audit of the Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit website. This audit was conducted on a macOS Monterey platform using the Chrome browser. For the website evaluation, I used a combination of tools and methods. My automated testing was primarily done with
Location: Throne at Lawson Park, Royal Oak, MIDate of Observation: July 28, 2025Observation Duration: Approximately 15 minutesOverview: This audit focuses on the accessibility of a Throne public restroom unit, a port-a-potty alternative, located at Lawson Park in Royal Oak. The observation aimed to identify potential barriers for individuals with various disabilities. Difficulties Noted (Problems/Barriers): Positive Observations (Accessibility Features): Impact
My pursuit of efficiency has, at times, led me to rely on tools like Google Forms, EDPuzzle, or Kahoot, which, while quick to grade, lead to a diminished interest among my students. They do not engage deeply with the material if they know a multiple-choice quiz awaits — no matter how gamified — and rarely
Near the end of college in 2017, I knew that I would be moving out of New Orleans and to Ann Arbor. I wanted a way to stay connected to my high school and college friends, and after a semester of student teaching, I had learned enough from my ninth graders to understand that Facebook
The Illusion of Growth A few weeks ago, I shared my surprisingly positive experience with the i-Ready Reading Diagnostic, a standardized test that, against my philosophical leanings, proved to be my most effective assessment experience in the context of teaching 6th-grade English Language Arts. Perhaps most enlightening about that blog post was how quickly the
The Surprising Clarity of a Standardized Test When asked to reflect on my “best” assessment, I immediately pictured an English Language Arts class with students compiling writing samples into neat portfolios – a perfectly crafted, authentic project. But the truth is, my best assessment is a standardized test: the i-Ready Reading Diagnostic test. As a
My Evolving Beliefs on Assessment In the last few months, I have seen friends post about the 4.0s they have earned in their master’s programs. I often catch myself thinking, “I just need to keep it up, and I will get to post my 4.0 at the end, too!” Then I remember I am in
As a middle school English language arts teacher, I see my students’ potential everyday. However, many struggle with executive functioning which leads to missed deadlines and academic stress. For CEP 822 Aproaches to Educational Research, I developed an Action Research Plan to implement a standardized, school-wide planner to move from chasing missing work to empowering
As a final project for CEP 820 Teaching and Learning Online, I designed a 6th grade argumentative writing unit built in Google Classroom. In a world saturated with information and varying viewpoints, the ability to construct a sound argument is one of the most critical skills a student can develop. It moves them beyond simply
