Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! (Assessment, Feedback, Grading, and Learning) Titelbild

Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! (Assessment, Feedback, Grading, and Learning)

Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! (Assessment, Feedback, Grading, and Learning)

Von: Tom Schimmer
Jetzt kostenlos hören, ohne Abo

Nur 0,99 € pro Monat für die ersten 3 Monate

Danach 9.95 € pro Monat. Bedingungen gelten.

Über diesen Titel

Assess THAT with Tom & Nat is a bi-weekly podcast where co-hosts Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso unpack what it really means to deepen assessment literacy in schools. Known for their dynamic, insightful, and sometimes provocative conversations, Tom and Nat create a space where educators can rethink grading, feedback, and accountability in ways that put student learning first. Each episode blends practical strategies with big-picture thinking, helping teachers and leaders translate research into action without losing sight of the human side of education.

Listeners can expect honest discussions, fresh perspectives, and plenty of take-home ideas. From reimagining final exams to exploring the role of assessment in equity and Universal Design for Learning, Assess THAT is for any educator ready to challenge the status quo and embrace assessment as a tool for growth—not just measurement.

About the Hosts
Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso are internationally recognized speakers, authors, and consultants who have spent their careers helping schools modernize assessment and grading practices. Together, they are the co-founders of the Canadian Assessment Centre (CAC), a national professional learning hub created by Canadians, for Canadians to bring clarity, credibility, and care to assessment in classrooms across the country.

  • Tom Schimmer is the author and co-author of multiple best-selling books, including Grading from the Inside Out and Standards-Based Learning in Action. With 35 years of experience as a teacher, leader, and consultant, Tom is known for his ability to translate big ideas into practical tools educators can use right away.

  • Natalie Vardabasso is a leading voice in assessment and equity, recognized for her innovative approaches to standards-based learning, feedback, and student agency. As a speaker, writer, and coach, she has helped thousands of educators create assessment systems that are not only accurate but also deeply humanizing.

Together, Tom and Natalie bring complementary perspectives, humour, and a deep commitment to making assessment meaningful. Their partnership in Assess THAT and at the Canadian Assessment Centre reflects a shared belief that when educators improve how they assess, they unlock the full potential of every learner.

Tom and Natalie are also the authors of Rehumanizing Assessment: Gathering Evidence of Learning Through Storytelling, a book that challenges traditional grading systems and shows how assessment can honour student voice and identity.

Why Listen?
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, school leader, or policy maker, Assess THAT with Tom & Nat will challenge your assumptions, equip you with actionable strategies, and inspire you to see assessment as the most powerful driver of student success.

Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
Folgen
  • 27 - The Hidden Cost of Implementation Errors in Assessment & Grading

    27 - The Hidden Cost of Implementation Errors in Assessment & Grading
    Jan 19 2026

    When educators say, “We tried that… and it didn’t work,” the conversation often stops there. But what if the problem isn’t the idea itself (e.g., feedback, reassessment, rubrics, or standards-based grading) but the way it was implemented? In this episode of Assess THAT, Tom & Nat explore the often-overlooked distinction between sound assessment ideas and the implementation choices that bring them to life. Through concrete classroom and leadership examples, they unpack why promising practices are so frequently abandoned before they’ve had a real chance to succeed.

    Taking a coaching-oriented lens, this conversation invites educators to slow down, reflect, and ask better questions before dismissing powerful approaches to assessment and grading. You’ll hear about common implementation errors - surface adoption, misaligned beliefs, missing conditions, and unrealistic expectations - and how refining implementation can restore trust in practices that genuinely support student learning. This episode is a reminder that implementation is not a checklist, but a professional design challenge worth getting right.

    🍁 CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE

    Join our mailing list for assessment strategies, new podcast episodes, upcoming events, and all things Canadian Assessment. Join Here

    • CAC on Instagram
    • CAC on Facebook
    • CAC on X
    • EMAIL: info@canadianassessment.ca

    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

    -Mar. 18-21, 2026 (Tom) EARCOS Teacher Conference (Bangkok, TH)

    -Apr. 1-2, 2026 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out (Franklin, TN)

    -Apr. 9-10, 2026 Canadian Assessment Spring Conference (Vancouver, BC)

    NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on X
    • Tom on X
    • Natalie on X
    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    41 Min.
  • 26 - Motivation and Assessment: Designing the Conditions for Learning with Josh Ogilvie

    26 - Motivation and Assessment: Designing the Conditions for Learning with Josh Ogilvie
    Jan 5 2026

    In this episode, Tom & Natalie are joined by CAC consultant Josh Ogilvie for a thoughtful and energizing conversation about the relationship between student motivation and sound assessment practices. Josh challenges the idea that motivation is something students either have or don’t have, and instead invites us to look closely at the conditions we design in classrooms (e.g., through purpose, choice, feedback, and assessment) that either invite students in or quietly push them out. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about engagement and explore why motivation is often a signal about design, not effort or character.

    They also dig deeply into physical education as a powerful yet often misunderstood context for assessment. Josh shares why assessment in PE is uniquely emotional and visible for students, how traditional grading practices can unintentionally undermine confidence, and what more human, learning-focused assessment can look like in practice. Whether you teach PE or not, this conversation offers practical insights into how assessment can build agency, confidence, and motivation, rather than compliance, and why getting these details right matters more than we often realize.

    🍁 CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE

    Join our mailing list for assessment strategies, new podcast episodes, upcoming events, and all things Canadian Assessment. Join Here

    • CAC on Instagram
    • CAC on Facebook
    • CAC on X
    • EMAIL: info@canadianassessment.ca

    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

    -Mar. 18-21, 2026 (Tom) EARCOS Teacher Conference (Bangkok, TH)

    -Apr. 1-2, 2026 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out (Franklin, TN)

    -Apr. 9-10, 2026 Canadian Assessment Spring Conference (Vancouver, BC)

    NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on X
    • Tom on X
    • Natalie on X
    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 2 Min.
  • 25 - The Ghosts of Grading Past, Present & Future (Rethinking Assessment Through A Christmas Carol)

    25 - The Ghosts of Grading Past, Present & Future (Rethinking Assessment Through A Christmas Carol)
    Dec 15 2025

    In this special holiday episode of Assess THAT with Tom & Nat, Tom and Natalie explore grading through the timeless lens of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Guided by the ghosts of grading past, present, and yet to come, they unpack why grading is so emotionally charged, why change often feels threatening, and how our own experiences as students continue to shape the way we evaluate learning today. From fear-based grading practices to the identity-laden nature of grades, this episode invites listeners to reflect honestly on the stories that live beneath their current systems.

    Shifting the focus from grading debates to what truly drives learning, Tom and Natalie make the case that assessment (not grading) is the real engine of equity, motivation, and student growth. They explore what happens when assessment is treated as a living process rather than a set of events, and offer a future-focused vision that centres student voice, confidence, and accurate learning stories. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, school leader, or system-level decision-maker, this episode provides a powerful framework for starting meaningful conversations about grading and reimagining what’s possible for learners.

    🍁 CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE

    Join our mailing list for assessment strategies, new podcast episodes, upcoming events, and all things Canadian Assessment. Join Here

    • CAC on Instagram
    • CAC on Facebook
    • CAC on X
    • EMAIL: info@canadianassessment.ca

    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

    -Mar. 18-21, 2026 (Tom) EARCOS Teacher Conference (Bangkok, TH)

    -Apr. 1-2, 2026 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out (Franklin, TN)

    -Apr. 9-10, 2026 Canadian Assessment Spring Conference (Vancouver, BC)

    NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on X
    • Tom on X
    • Natalie on X
    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    50 Min.
Noch keine Rezensionen vorhanden