Authentic Assessment: You're Funded!

How's this for authentic assessment? Fifth-graders from Elise Mueller's class in Bellingham, Wash., wanted to upgrade their classroom technology. So they asked if they could write their own grant proposal. Their teacher, a veteran at using the project approach, encouraged the students to put together a project team. They used a wiki to organize their proposal, including a spreadsheet to track the proposed costs and persuasive writing to make their case for technologies to support "meaningful projects designed with teacher support, to meet individual learning goals and learning styles." Their proposal has been funded, bringing in nearly $10,000 in new equipment. Among their ideas for "learning adventures": podcasts, videos that challenge common scientific misconceptions, and claymation videos starring "Math Man."