ts profiles, and prepare to teach to the diverse needs of the students. Any subject can be taught in more then one way, thus teachers have to be very imaginative and think of creative ways to convey information to students making it easier for students to understand. In Key Learning Communities based on Howard Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligence students are assessed in much different ways than the traditional paper and pencil tests or exams of traditional schools. In a Key Learning Community more emphasis is placed on portfolios, what can the student produce? Each year a student is expected to complete two theme projects. These projects on completed by the student working independently at home. Towards the end of each semester the students projects are presented to their peers and teachers at which time they are videotaped. These tapes eventually are given to the student when moving on in their educational career.Another type of assessment at Key Learning Communities is a student portfolio. Students take work which best represents their ability and place it in a orderly fashion into a portfolio. This may include any work done kindergarten through eighth grade. This portfolio becomes a part of the evaluation process at a Key Learning Community. The process of evaluation in a Key Learning Community is much different than that of a traditional school. Emphasis is placed more on progress in the students learning. There are no scheduled grading practices where students are given a report card every ten weeks. Rather students are assessed on a learning continuum. The question then is how much progress has the student made, instead of has the student met the standards or benchmarks. Consideration is given to the students age, participation, and motivation when determining a students progress (http://www.ips.k12.in.us/mskey/). The theory of multiple intelligences introduces a troubling concept: we dont all learn the same...
