Press Releases

World renowned assessment reform expert to focus on Authentic Assessment in Urban Education

DETROIT, Mich., March 14, 2011 —Marygrove College today announced award-winning author and education expert Dr. Grant Wiggins will deliver the keynote address at the College’s upcoming two-day education conference. The conference, which will explore new and innovative ideas about the use of authentic performance assessment in urban schools, will be held on the Marygrove College campus on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, 2011. Wiggins will give the keynote address Friday night at 6 p.m.

Wiggins is the President of Authentic Education in Hopewell, New Jersey, a staff development and consulting services company specializing in design and teaching for understanding, effective assessment and thoughtful school change. He is perhaps best known for being the co-author, with Dr. Jay McTighe, of “Understanding by Design” (UbD), the award-winning program and set of materials on curriculum design used around the world; and of “Schooling by Design.” His work has been supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.

“Understanding by Design (UbD) is an important, practical framework used internationally to improve student learning outcomes in college programs and in schools,” said Dr. Chris Seguin, Dean of Education, Marygrove College. “Authored by Dr. Wiggins and colleague Dr. Jay McTighe, UbD emphasizes instructors' roles as designers and planners of student learning experiences. Course planning using UbD is sometimes called ‘backwards design’ or ‘teaching with the end in mind.’ When instructors craft effective, engaging learning opportunities and devise useful assessments of student understanding, learning is intentionally enlivened."

On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Spring Arbor University Provost Dr. Betty Overton-Adkins will present on “Assessment as Truth-Telling, Learning Who We Really Are.” Her address will be followed by a panel discussion led by Amy Bernstein Colton, co-author of “Collaborative Analysis of Student Work: Improving Teaching and Learning;” Patricia Drake, data consultant from Wayne County RESA, Dr. Chukwunyere Okezie, professor at Marygrove College; Karen Ridgeway, Assistant Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools; and Hakim Shahid, professor at Madonna University.

The conference is open to teachers, administrators, staff and Education students.  For more information, go to marygrove.edu/educationconference2011.