Critical assessment for transformative education: for people and the planet

Abstract

The purpose of this portfolio is to review the relevant academic literature from environmental and social justice education, as well as assessment and evaluation, to make the case for critical assessment and evaluation practices for transformative education. As we grapple with persisting social inequality, that was amplified by the impacts global COVID-19 pandemic, and while we also move closer towards irreversible tipping points in the climate crisis, it is clear that education for social reproduction is insufficient in addressing the challenges we collectively face. Assessment and evaluation, although one of the most fundamental and ongoing duties of classroom teachers and educators, has largely been left out of conversations about environmental and social justice education. Thus, this portfolio makes the case for critical assessment practices that can support teachers in the province of Ontario who wish to support environmental and social justice education in their practice. The tasks included in this portfolio are: 1) a literature review; 2) a guide to critical assessment; 3) an infographic summarizing the guide’s connection to the academic literature; and 4) a personal reflection.