Non-cognitive VariablesAdmittance and assessment for the non-traditional age

WhatNon-academic indicators that students will succeed: Related to life-skills, emotional health, and environment. They are used in college admissions.

WhyWhat's wrong with the SAT?

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Why use non-cognitive variables?

Down with standardized testing• Only measures academic

performance

• Not relevant for Big Picture students

• Are discriminatory

• Promotes teaching only the information that is going to be on a test, not life skills

• Discriminates against students with learning differences

• Only measures a student at one point in his or her development

Go non-cognitive variables• Assess life skills

• Are nondiscriminatory

• Are based on recent research

• Have been studied

• Are less stressful

• Can be used to assess traditional or non-traditional students

• Can be used in conjunction with tests

July 22, 2012http://ideas.time.com/2012/10/11/why-its-time-to-get-rid-of-standardized-tests/

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Evidence

July 22, 2012

The website http://williamsedlacek.info/publications.html has hundreds of studies supporting

non-cognitive variables

#1 Positive self concept

Its about more then seeing the glass as half full

Its about thinking you can do a thing

Saying yes I can instead of finding reasons why you can’t

If you say yes I can you are less likely to give up, and more likely to try hard

You can never succeed if you give up

Therefor your self belief will become a self fulfilling prophecy

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Example: “Death Comes to Pemberly”

• Charlotte uses her husband’s self concept to control him

• She tells him he has qualities he doesn't have boosting his self concept

• He then believes he is capable of having that attribute

• He then works hard to keep and bolster the mentioned attribute

• His work to keep the quality, and his belief he has it leads him to acquire that quality

July 22, 2012

“She (Charlotte) consistently congratulated him on qualites he did not possess in the hope that, flattered by her praise and approval he would acquire them”

P.D. James Death Comes to Pemberly

Charlotte uses above method to turn her husband into a avid gardener

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In my lifeI try to see what I do positively. When asked to complete a self-assessment I try to portray myself in the best possible light.

In a society that emphasizes humility, it is difficult to have a self concept without feeling bad about boasting.

In my life I try to allow myself to feel proud of what I do well without feeling bad

July 22, 2012

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#2 Realistic Self Assessment

July 22, 2012

Its seeing things as they really are

Its not about seeing the glass as half full or half empty but getting out a measuring tape finding out exactly how much water is in the proverbial glass

Because thinking you can do something will only get you so far

At some point you need to see your own strengths and limitations, so you can figure out what you need to do to succeed

Even if you believe in your heart of hearts that you can fly, you still shouldn’t jump off a cliff

Knowing your strengths allows you to plan for success

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Example: Self Assessments• Students in SBHS chemistry self grade homework

• They realistically self assess when doing so

• I am in SBHS chemistry, and use realistic self assessment to grade my homework

July 22, 2012

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In my lifeI try to asses myself realistically.

I try to be honest with myself when something is not my best work and try not to put myself down when something I do is awesome.

It is hard to know if you have realistic self assessment since it is hard to know if your self assessment is accurate.

July 22, 2012

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#3 Skills at Navigating Systems and Understanding of and Skill at Dealing with Discrimination

July 22, 2012

Navigating systems involves getting what's best for you out of a system

Systems such as schools, workplaces, and tech related clubs may discriminate agents people or make it difficult for people to accomplish there goals

Reverse discrimination, and general discrimination against girls in tech may effect me

I help girls navigate systems of discrimination by participating in the girls in teck conference

I have experience navigating the school system

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EXAMPLE: Navigating systems• Big picture is a way to navigate the traditional school system

• It helps make the school system work for me

• I can take classes and graduate from high school with independent work

• Big picture helps me learn ways to get what's best for me out of a big bureaucratic school system that’s working against me

July 22, 2012

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In my life

• I do not experience much discrimination

• I participate in the girls in tech conference to help girls get into tech, a mail dominated field

• I think all forms of discrimination are wrong

July 22, 2012

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#4 Preference for Long-Range Goals over Short-Term or Immediate Needs

Immediate needs are things I want now. Though instantly satisfying, immediate needs often leave you feeling empty

Meeting long term goals takes work that is hard and boring, but meeting them is more satisfying

Long term goals, like going to collage or saving money for retirement make your life better in the long term

Immediate needs, like eating junk food or trying drugs don't

Giving up immediate wants to meet long term goals will make your future better

Some indulgence are needed to make life seem worth wile

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EXAMPLE: Preference for Long-Range Goals over Short-Term or Immediate Needs

July 22, 2012

I would rather be watching TV then making this PowerPoint

Watching TV is an immediate need, that I would enjoy but wouldn't help me reach my life goals.

Completing this PowerPoint is a step in graduating high school, a long term goal, which in tern will help me reach my goals in life.

Every time I do homework instead of something that I actually want to do I am showing proficiency in this variable.

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In my life

• I consistently do home work in a attempt to meet a long term goal of graduating and going to collage

• I stay in high school, despite hating it so I can meet a long term goal of not working for minimum wage.

• I exercise, though I do not enjoy it to meet my long term goal of staying in shape

July 22, 2012

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#5: Availability of a Strong Support Person

July 22, 2012

A support network is necessary to survive life

Family and friends, are essential to success, in collage and beyond

They don’t let you give up, they encourage you to follow your dreams, and they aloes help you out when your down.

A support person doesn't let you give up, they push you to succeed and forgive you when you fail

Without another person to hold you accountable, and to support you, everyone is destined to become depressed

With a support system anyone can succeed

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EXAMPLE: grays anatomy

July 22, 2012

In the show grays anatomy the interns support each other to succeed, and help each other when they fail. They push and support and cover for each other.

When Izzy purposefully makes her boyfriends medical condition worse to help him get a heat transplant, the other interns help her keep him alive. When they get caught, the other interns refuse to tell on Izzy, and instead share the punishment.

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In My Life• I have a strong support network

• My family, always supports me

• My Friends can always make me laugh when I'm feeling down

• Big picture advisors help me in my school work

• My mentors Franzi and Darcy, and everyone at my internship supports me and helps me learn

• My mom always supports me, even when I don’t feel like going to school, and always pushes me to do my best.

July 22, 2012

http://admissionado.com/mba/resources/tuesday-qa-leadership-experience-important/21

#6 Successful Leadership Experience

July 22, 2012

Everyone (except for the lowliest grunts at the bottom of the food chain) will need to lead

Without leadership ability you will never get promoted or move up in the job force

Leadership experience indicates trust and success. If someone trusts you enough to give you the power of leadership, then you are probably responsible

Those who can lead will be more successful Proven leaders are more likely to be successful

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Example: National Honors SocietyNational Honors Society description of a good leader :

"resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life”

• Sounds like someone I'd want to hire / admit to a collage

• Many colleges look at leadership in college admissions

July 22, 2012

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In my life• I am not currently a leader, but

I’m not a follower either

• I would be a good leader, If my philosophy was the same as the people I was leading

• I am good at leading kids, whom I babysit

July 22, 2012

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#7: Demonstrated Community Service and Involvement

July 22, 2012

Working in community service demonstrates you can do hard work, and boosts your resume

It demonstrates you can be empathetic and care about something other then yourself

It allows you to network, can make connections that can help you later in life

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EXAMPLE: transportation service learning term workshop• I was a part of the transportation service learning term project

• We volunteered to help maintain the bike path, being a member of the Burlington community

• We helped to put on a community bike festival in road island with another big picture school being part of the big picture and united states community

• We used sustainable transportation being members of the world community

July 22, 2012

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In my life• I volunteer 8 hours a week at my

internship at the Weiss lab

• The Weiss lab is trying to help the community by finding a way to grow new lungs

• I volunteer and try to help the community during service learning term

• I donate to the maximum fun podcasting community

• I am involved in several online community's

• I am a member on the big picture community, the Weiss lab community, the Vermont community and the world community

July 22, 2012

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#8 Knowledge acquired in or about a field

July 22, 2012

I think this is the most important variable

Having experience in a field allows you to know what you want to do saving time and money

Having experience boosts your resume and puts you on the top of accepted and hired lists

Experience allows you to be better at what you do

Big picture internships allow us to get experience, giving us a big advantage

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EXAMPLE: Internships

• Big picture students go to internships

• Learn about a field, and get the inside scoop

• Find out if that is really what they want to do

• Boost resume

July 22, 2012

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In my lifeI intern at the Weiss lab

Learned about being a scientist

Got to do lots of cool stuff

July 22, 2012