How can science notebooks serve as a form of assessment?
Student notebooks provide a clear picture of student understanding and are an excellent formative or summative assessment tool. As teachers read and evaluate student entries using a criterion-based rubric, gaps between the desired learning and actual student learning may emerge. These gaps can be addressed through guiding questions, repetition of investigations, or follow-up lessons. Rubrics can also assist teachers in assessing science process skills and supporting student development. Finally, the use of rubrics as formative assessment also provides an opportunity for metacognitive thinking – students reflecting on their own work. When used as formative assessment, feedback becomes extremely important. Teachers can use guiding questions to support students as they link claims to evidence. Timely feedback can also help to correct the many misconceptions that may emerge from inquiry-based investigations. Notebooks can also serve as summative assessment at the end of a unit. Again, rubr
