Formative Assessment: Assessment For and As Learning

1. 6 strategies/practices used in assessment for and as learning

1.1. Developing Learning Goals

1.1.1. common understanding of what is being learned (Growing Success, 2010)

1.2. Identifying Success Criteria

1.2.1. involve students in the process of creating success criteria and establish a common understanding of what defines success in learning (Growing Success, 2010)

1.3. Eliciting Information about Student Learning

1.3.1. teachers gather information about student learning through observation, student-teacher conversations, and student work (Growing Success, 2010, p. 34)

1.4. Providing Descriptive Feedback

1.4.1. provide students with information about what they are doing well, what needs improvement, and what specific steps they can take to improve (Growing Success, 2010)

1.5. Developing Student Self Assessment and Peer-Assessment Skills

1.5.1. students begin to assess their own learning with the support of their teacher (Growing Success, 2010)

1.6. Developing Individual Goal Setting

1.6.1. students identify specific areas they need to improve on and start to plan their next steps (Growing Success, 2010).

2. Formative Assessment

2.1. "assessment that takes place during instruction in order to provide direction for improvement" ( Growing Success, 2010, p. 147)

2.2. makes student learning visible

2.3. "helps students improve while they are still gaining knowledge and practising skills" (Growing Success, 2010, p. 147)

3. Assessment for Learning

3.1. "ongoing process of gathering and interpreting evidence about student learning" (Growing Success, 2010, p. 144).

3.2. helps students recognize where they are in their learning, where they need to go, and how to get there

3.3. occurs while the student is still learning and serves to promote learning

4. Assessment as Learning

4.1. "developing and supporting student metacognition" (Growing Success, 2010, p. 143)

4.2. student engagement is an important aspect of this assessment process

4.3. students have a strong understanding of the learning goals and success criteria

4.4. the student acts as the critical connector between assessment and learning