Assessment for Learning

Birmingham Grid for Learning

Birmingham City Council

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Assessment for Learning

Improving learning and raising standards

Evidence indicates that effective assessment as part of on-going teaching and learning, with the active involvement of pupils, is a powerful means of improving learning and raising standards. Assessment for learning involves:

the sharing of learning intentions/objectives and success criteria with pupils, and the development of these with pupils.
giving oral and written feedback to pupils based on these intentions/objectives, with the feedback relating directly to their learning in a way that they can understand and act upon
the use of questioning to help pupils express and discuss their ideas and their understanding
the nurturing of pupils as independent learners through the development of self assessment and peer assessment.

Assessment for learning contrasts with assessment of learning, which involves the summarising of pupils' progress at particular points in time for reporting, monitoring and the evaluation of standards and progress.

Effective Assessment - Principles and Practice
This document explores the relationship between assessment for learning and assessment of learning. It emphasises how day to day assessment for learning in the classroom should drive assessment practice in schools and shows how it relates to assessment purposes and practices in the medium and longer terms. Printed copies can be ordered from BASS Publications on 303 8081.

Documents

The importance of assessment for learning is outlined in the following documents:

	Inside the Black Box: raising standards through classroom assessment Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam, Kings College, London 1998
	Assessment for Learning: beyond the black box Assessment Reform Group University of Cambridge, School of Education 1999
	Working Inside the Black Box: assessment for learning in the classroom Paul Black et al Kings College, London 2002
	Assessment for learning: 10 principles Assessment Reform Group 2002

Web links

Further information can be found on the following websites:

	Assessment Reform Group Relevant research evidence used in assessment policy and practice.
	Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment Promoting and supporting assessment for learning.
	Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Guidance promoting consistency in how Assessment for Learning is applied in the classroom.
	Key Stage 3 Strategy - assessment for learning materials Assessment for learning - whole-school training materials
	Suffolk LA assessment site Suffolk Advisory Service assessment team.
	Assessment is for Learning On line resources supporting the development of assessment practice in Scotland.

DVD

BASS has also produced two DVDs to support the development of assessment for learning:

	Partners in Learning: assessment for learning in primary schools Available from BASS Publications on 0121 303 8081
	Learning for Life: assessment for learning in secondary schools Available from BASS Publications on 0121 303 8081

Further reading

Further information about assessment for learning and related assessment issues can be found in the following publications:

	Assessment for Learning: putting it into practice Paul Black et al Open University Press 2003
	Formative Assessment in Action Shirley Clarke Hodder Murray 2005
	Enriching Feedback Shirley Clarke Hodder and Stoughton 2003
	Unlocking Formative Assessment Shirley Clarke Hodder and Stoughton 2001
	Formative Assessment in the Secondary Classroom Shirley Clarke Hodder Murray 2005
	Managing Assessment for Learning AAIA (Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment) 2005 Available from current.membership@aaia.org.uk
	Improving Learning Through Formative Assessment BASS Additional Summary 2000 (call 0121 303 8081)
	Good Assessment in Secondary Schools OFSTED March 2003
	Gillingham Partnership Formative Assessment Project 2000-2001 Interim report on the first term of the project.
	Gillingham Partnership Formative Assessment Project 2000-2001 Interim report on the second term of the project.
	Gillingham Partnership Formative Assessment Project 2000-2001 Final report on the third term of the project and final conclusions.
	Testing, Motivation and Learning Assessment Reform Group University of Cambridge, School of Education 2002 ISBN 085603 046 5
	Assessment and Learning John Gardner (ed.) Sage Publications 2006
	Self theories: their role in motivation, personality and development Carol Dweck Psychology Press 1999

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