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
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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.
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  • 39 - Did They Learn It or Did We Scaffold It?

    39 - Did They Learn It or Did We Scaffold It?
    Oct 14 2026

    Scaffolding is an essential part of effective teaching, but how do we know when students have truly learned something versus simply performed well with support? In this episode of Assess THAT!, Tom and Natalie explore the often-overlooked distinction between supporting student learning and gathering accurate evidence of achievement. From teacher prompting and guided questioning to graphic organizers and worked examples, they unpack how well-intentioned instructional support can sometimes obscure what students actually know and can do independently. The challenge isn't to stop scaffolding; it's to recognize how the conditions under which students demonstrate learning influence what we can confidently conclude from the evidence.

    The conversation examines the delicate balance between providing enough support to move learning forward and knowing when to gradually remove that support. Tom and Natalie explore why independence shouldn't automatically become an achievement criterion, how scaffolded and independent evidence serve different purposes, and what this means for formative assessment, grading, and professional judgment. They also offer practical ways teachers can track the conditions under which learning is demonstrated without creating complicated assessment systems. Ultimately, this episode challenges educators to ask a deceptively simple question: Are we assessing what students have learned, or what we've helped them produce?

    • Feedback Flow Mini-Course

    • Assess THAT on YouTube!

    🍁 CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE

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

    JOIN HERE

    WEBSITE

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

    BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    32 Min.
  • 37 - End of Year Assessment Audit (10 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask)

    37 - End of Year Assessment Audit (10 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask)
    Jul 6 2026

    As a school year is completed, it's natural to reflect on what worked, what didn't, and what you'd like to do differently next year. But beyond lessons, units, and classroom management, there's another area that deserves our attention: assessment. In this episode, Tom and Natalie guide listeners through an end-of-year assessment audit built around 10 powerful questions designed to help teachers examine the effectiveness, accuracy, and impact of their assessment practices. From the quality of evidence we gathered to the role feedback played in student growth, this conversation is all about learning from the year that was.

    Along the way, we explore whether grades truly reflected achievement, where compliance may have quietly influenced reporting, how students developed as self-assessors, and which assessment routines delivered the greatest return on time and energy. Rather than encouraging a complete overhaul, this episode helps educators identify a few meaningful adjustments that can make next year more accurate, more sustainable, and more supportive of student learning. Before you close the door on this school year, take a moment to learn from the evidence your own classroom produced.

    • The End-of-Year Assessment Audit

    • The Grading Reform Leadership Lab Description
    • Book a Call with Tom to discuss participating in the Grading Reform Leadership Lab

    • Check Out Edsby Destinations

    • Feedback Flow Mini-Course

    • Assess THAT on YouTube!

    🍁 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

    BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    42 Min.
  • 38 - Start the School Year Right (5 Assessment Decisions Every Teacher Should Make)

    38 - Start the School Year Right (5 Assessment Decisions Every Teacher Should Make)
    Sep 28 2026

    At the end of the school year, we encouraged you to look back with our End-of-Year Assessment Audit to consider what worked, what didn’t, and what you might want to change. Now it’s time to turn that reflection forward. Before the gradebook starts filling up and familiar routines take over, the beginning of a new school year gives us a brief opportunity to be intentional about the assessment culture we want to create.

    In this episode, we unpack five assessment decisions every teacher should make at the start of the school year: what learning actually matters, what evidence you’ll trust, what proficiency looks like, what happens when students aren’t there yet, and what role students will play in the assessment process. This isn’t about overhauling everything you do. It’s about making a few deliberate decisions now that can lead to more accurate assessment, more meaningful feedback, and more confident learners throughout the year.

    • Feedback Flow Mini-Course

    • Assess THAT on YouTube!

    🍁 CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE

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

    JOIN HERE

    WEBSITE

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

    BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    35 Min.
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