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

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

Auteur(s): Tom Schimmer
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À propos de cet audio

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.
Épisodes
  • 34 - Why Participation Grades Don’t Belong in Your Gradebook (And What To Do Instead)

    34 - Why Participation Grades Don’t Belong in Your Gradebook (And What To Do Instead)
    Apr 29 2026

    Participation grades are still widely used in education. In this episode, Tom and Nat challenge the assumption that participation belongs in academic grades by unpacking a critical distinction: participation may support learning, but it is not the same as learning. Through a candid and thought-provoking conversation, they explore what participation grades often end up measuring: personality, confidence, compliance, and cultural norms, rather than actual understanding. The result? Grades that can unintentionally distort achievement and disadvantage certain learners.

    But this episode doesn’t stop at critique. Tom and Nat reframe participation as something too important to reduce to a number, offering practical ways to make it more inclusive, intentional, and aligned with sound assessment practices. From expanding how participation is defined to separating it from academic achievement and using it as a tool for feedback and growth, this conversation will challenge your thinking and give you concrete ways to better support student engagement, without compromising the integrity of your grades.

    While this episode is timely, given the recent announcement by the Ontario government, it was recorded on March 27, before the government's "Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026" was announced in April 2026.

    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

    NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT

    • Rehumanizing Assessment

    CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

    • Podcast on IG
    • Tom on IG
    • Natalie on IG
    • Podcast on X
    • Tom on X
    • Natalie on X
    Voir plus Voir moins
    42 min
  • 33 - Interview w/ Jon Asbury, Edsby Destinations

    33 - Interview w/ Jon Asbury, Edsby Destinations
    Apr 19 2026

    In this episode, Tom & Natalie are joined by Jon Asbury, co-founder of Edsby, to discuss their new platform, "Edsby Destinations." Previously, Jon was one of the three co-founders of a company called SoftArc. SoftArc built an email and collaboration system called FirstClass back in the 90s that took the world by storm and is credited as, among other things, the first learning management system.

    Edsby Destinations is a scalable, competency-based assessment and reporting system designed to help K-12 districts and state governments clearly articulate and track what students are learning, where they are headed, and how to get them there. Destinations aligns performance to local outcome frameworks and standards, enabling a student “GPS for learning” with real-time educator visibility into progress against defined success criteria. Teachers, students, and families benefit from clear, student-friendly language, multimedia evidence capture, two-way feedback, and dashboards that illuminate learning pathways at individual, class, and regional levels. Designed for large K-12 organizations and linked with existing SISes and LMSes, it ensures assessment practices scale with transparency and consistency.

    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

    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
    Voir plus Voir moins
    50 min
  • 32 - Why Feedback Fails (And What Actually Makes It Work)

    32 - Why Feedback Fails (And What Actually Makes It Work)
    Mar 30 2026

    In this episode, Tom and Nat take a hard look at one of the most celebrated and misunderstood elements of teaching: feedback. While research consistently shows that feedback can significantly improve student achievement, the reality in many classrooms is very different. Too often, feedback is given but not used, leaving teachers frustrated and students unchanged. Together, they unpack five key reasons feedback fails, including the impact of grades, cognitive overload, poor timing, over-directiveness, and the emotional side of how feedback lands with students.

    More importantly, this episode shifts the conversation from effort to design. Tom and Nat explore what actually makes feedback effective (not in theory, but in practice), offering clear, actionable principles that help ensure feedback leads to thinking, revision, and growth. If you’ve ever wondered why your feedback isn’t getting the results you hoped for, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you a more intentional, impactful way forward.

    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

    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

    -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
    Voir plus Voir moins
    34 min
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