Academic Content Skills
Why This Module Matters
Project-based learning can do a lot—but it can’t do everything. While many of your outcomes may be addressed through project work, others—like reading fluency, foundational math skills, or language acquisition—will need different kinds of tools and evidence to support growth. This module helps you think about how to fill in the gaps.
In many cases, project-based learning will help you reflect on transferable skills, life habits, and sense of self. But those skills and the same tools could apply to other parts of your day.
Academic Content Skills, especially those in reading and math, will likely require more traditional forms of assessment in some form.
In this module, we’ll explore the other evidence and tools you’ll need to fully capture your outcomes and priorities.
Start With the Student Work
Let’s start by looking at some examples of evidence and tools that look at other academic outcomes.
Directions: Revisit the i-Ready reports included in Nicholas’ portfolio. As you review them, consider what kind of data these tools provide.
- What do they show you about where Nicholas is in his learning?
- How might this kind of data be useful when planning instruction, tracking skill development, or supporting individual learning goals?
These assessments offer a different kind of insight than the other artifacts we reviewed. Tools like these are especially helpful for tracking progress in areas that require ongoing, incremental development—like reading fluency, basic math skills, or language learning. They can complement the more holistic, open-ended evidence you collect through projects by giving you clear snapshots of where a student is performing on a continuum.
Find the Right Fit
You don’t have to use i-Ready specifically—but you might need something similar. Think about what tools will help you:
- Track growth in foundational skills (like reading, math, or language)
- Meet external accountability or reporting requirements
- Support individual learning plans or interventions
Apply It to Your School
Open your assessment plan and revisit any outcomes that may not be fully addressed through project-based learning.
Use this section to update the last three columns:
- What specific goals do you have for this outcome?
- What evidence or data will help you understand student progress?
- What tools—including more formal assessments—will you use to collect that data?
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