At Garth Webb S.S., we are committed to assessment and evaluation practices that support student learning, reflect fairness and equity, and align with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Growing Success policy (including the latest 2024 updates). Our goal is to provide meaningful, accurate information about your child’s progress while helping all students reach their full potential.
This week, we’d like to highlight a key element of assessment: Triangulation of Data.
What is Triangulation of Data?
To determine a student’s grade, teachers collect and interpret evidence of learning from three sources:
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Observations (e.g., watching students during group work or hands-on activities)
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Conversations (e.g., class discussions, check-ins, student-teacher conferences)
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Products (e.g., assignments, projects, tests, portfolios, presentations)
Using multiple sources ensures that all students have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate their learning in ways that work best for them. This approach also allows teachers to adjust instruction and provide feedback tailored to student needs.
Examples of this in action include:
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Small group discussions where students explain their thinking
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Projects or demonstrations that allow creativity and depth
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Portfolios or presentations that show learning over time
The Role of Professional Judgement
Teachers also use their professional judgement to make fair and informed decisions about student learning. This means they consider:
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Curriculum expectations
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The context of learning
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Quality and consistency of student work
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Which assessments carry more weight based on their depth and relevance
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Any incomplete or missing assessments
Professional judgement is not subjective guessing: it’s a thoughtful, reflective process based on expertise, training, and ongoing observation of each student’s progress.
By using triangulation of data and applying professional judgement, our teachers strive to ensure that every student is assessed in a way that is accurate, inclusive, and focused on growth.
If you have any questions about how assessment works at GWSS, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teachers or our school team.