Using Assessment to Support Learning

-understanding students' point of need and using the craft of the profession to meet that need!

​What it is!

-not a learning intention
-not the same for all students
-not more work for the teacher student!

What it is NOT

​Not AOLs and AFLs

Assessments should not be part of this dichotomy -the tension is unnecessary (Black&Wiliam, 2018)
Assessments are, among other things, tools to improve practice
What are the "other things"?

​Thoughts?

​Here's an example...

Jack has $15. He loses some. How much does he have left?

Here are some reflection questions-
-do our exams reflect this?
-are our exams sometimes too easy? too hard? or just not effective?
-do we actually evaluate our exams/assessments?

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​Looks familiar!

​Assessment design...

Mary had a little lamb. Her fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go!

Can we design tasks, that recognise the students' point of need, and enable them to improve by hopping from one verb to another?

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​Lilypads and frog jumping!

Discuss the impacts of polymers on today's world

​Final Lilypad

-Identify polymers in real world
-Describe how polymers are made
-Compare and contrast between polymers and short chained molecules

​Precursor Lilypads

Explain the feelings of identity that Dorothea Mackellar has about Australia in "My Country" and how does she use language to convey these feelings?

Final Lilypad

-Describe?
-Classify?
-List?
-Identify?

Precursor Lilypads

​Using assessment to reach learning goals

Ask yourself-
-who am I aiming this task at?
-what are the needs of this student?
-what do I need to do to build the necessary structures to help them reach the tree top?