Scaling success: exploring the impacts of instructional scales on student perceptions in a standards-based high school science classroom

Abstract

With the wide adoption of standards-based grading in many schools, challenges with this new grading paradigm continue to present themselves. Students often struggle to understand how to apply learning standards to their work. They lack the skills to assess their current skill level or to create a plan to achieve proficiency in set standards. Rubrics and other assessment tools often highlight deficiencies in student work and students are left wondering how to progress. This often leads to frustration with the grading system from students and families alike and a lack of engagement and motivation to develop skills. Instructional scales that lay out a progression of skill development culminating in the expected standard can support students in understanding learning expectations and achieving higher levels of proficiency. Work here introduced the Instructional Scales for the Constructing Explanations standard to high school science students in the third quarter of the school year. Students were surveyed to understand their current understanding of and use of rubrics, as well as their perceptions of their mastery of skills, understanding of learning expectations, and motivation. After using the scales in classroom instruction and feedback, students were surveyed again to understand how their perceptions regarding the instructional scales had changed. Select students were also interviewed before and after the introduction of instructional scales. From the data collected, students rated the scales as clearer or as clear as the existing rubrics, cited an increased understanding of learning expectations, and increased motivation. When students are provided tools to understand how to develop their skills and meet learning expectations, they will be more motivated to meet proficiency benchmarks. Furthermore, when teachers have a clear picture of how skills develop, they can provide more targeted feedback and support to students.