TOOLBOX POSSIBILITIES
LEARNING TARGET
As with all of the Trust Based Observations resource and weblinks pages, remember
these are abridged lists of recommendations. I am always excited about improving
these lists so please don’t hesitate to email me at craig@trustbased.com with any
suggestions or if for some reason a link is no longer active.
Recommended Books:
Learning Targets: Helping Students Aim for Understanding by Connie M. Moss and Susan M. Brookhart--for my
money the best, most clear book on all the ins and outs of learning targets and how to use them comprehensively to
improve teaching and learning.
Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom by Moss and Brookhart--chapter 2 is a clear concise
overview of learning targets.
General Learning Targets Articles:
The Dos and Don’ts of Learning Targets --Brief article explaining LT Basics.
Knowing Your Learning Target --Strong article explaining the entire LT process.
Framing Learning Targets from the Student’s Point of View --Graphic table with sample LT’s written for both
younger and older students. A nice primer to give teachers an initial idea of what successful LT’s can look like.
Navigating Learning Targets --Great PowerPoint style presentation, clear, easy to read and understand. Could be an
excellent starter for a PD session or PLC group. (Have received a report that if outside the US this link will only work
with a US VPN address)
Learning Targets --Clear primer article on LT’s, the LT process including a section on LT misconceptions.
Leaders of Their Own Learning: Chapter 1: Learning Targets-- Excellent article explaining what LT’s are, how to
create them, how to unpack them with students, includes videos demonstrating unpacking.
Introduction to Learning Targets --Nice little video by teachers on why learning targets are important.
Learning Targets Rubric for Teachers --One page rubric on the quality of written LT’s. Excellent for either teachers or
observers.
High Impact Teaching Strategies--This first high impact teaching strategy is setting goals (pr learning targets. The
fairly lengthy PDF had great information on learning targets, including some excellent in depth examples on pages 8,
10-12.
The 10% Running Rule…for Teaching!--Article for using beginning and end of class effectively and if applied to
Learning Targets can be an effective tool for improvement in this area.
Toolbox Possibilities:
Rubrics:
A set of criteria tied to learning targets which describes levels of performance in relation to the criteria.
Writing Effective Rubrics--Detailed article on everything anyone would need to know to write effective rubrics.
Tame the Beast: Tips for Designing and Using Rubrics--Brief article on rubric basics.
Tips to Writing a Strong Rubric--Nice ‘How to’ article on creating rubrics. Includes a link to their rubric template which
can be used to create rubrics.
Five Features of a Highly Effective Rubric--Simple article on rubrics plus excellent resource links to other articles on
rubrics as well as printable rubrics to steal/borrow.
What are Rubrics and Why Are They Important--Chapter excerpt from Susan M. Brookhart’s book on rubrics.
Excellent overview of rubrics.
What is a Rubric--Simple clear short article explaining all rubric essentials
Create a Rubric--Multiple links to sample rubrics for all grade levels. They can be used or modified.
Rubric Template Sample for Teachers--directions and sample templates for teachers to assist them in rubric creation.
Choose a Customizable Rubric--Effective tool to help teachers create rubrics.
Exemplars:
Examples of student work, usually previous students, of varying quality to help current students use as a measure for
their own work.
Making Productive Use of Exemplars--In depth paper on everything exemplar.
Exemplars Website--Excellent starter resource for exemplars and rubrics.
Redirecting a Lesson with Exemplars--Video example of a teacher using exemplars in a class.
Success Criteria:
Writing Tips for Learning Goals and Success Criteria--NIce little article showing how to create criteria connected to LT
John Hattie: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria--John Hattie himself speaking on Learning intention and success
criteria
Learning Intentions and Success Criteria--Concise One-pager explaining Learning intentions and success criteria -
Performances of Understanding:
Examples of student work, usually previous students, of varying quality to help current students use as a measure for
their own work.
How We Teach--Simple little article with a clear description of Performance of Understanding.
Learning Targets: Delving deeper into the Performance of Understanding--Great little Slide Show on performance
of understanding, includes examples. Highly recommended.
Response: Performance Assessments Are ‘Absolutely Worth the Effort--In depth article that answers the What,
Why and How of Performance Assessments. Includes thinking from 4 different authors, or pairs of authors. Really good
read.