Contribute to assessment for learning
Overview
Who is this unit for?
This unit is for those who contribute to assessment, as part of teaching and
learning, in ways that will raise pupils' achievement.
What is this unit about?
This unit is about using assessment for learning strategies as agreed with the teacher to promote pupils' learning. This includes supporting pupils to review their own learning and identify their own emerging learning needs.
This unit contains two elements:
1. Use assessment strategies to improve learning
2. Support pupils in reviewing their own learning
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Use assessment strategies to improve learning
P1 clarify and confirm with the teacher:
P1.1 the learning objectives for the activity
P1.2 the learning goals for individual pupils
P1.3 the success criteria for the learning activity
P1.4 the assessment opportunities and strategies relevant to your role in the lesson/activity
P2 discuss and clarify the learning goals and criteria for assessing progress with the pupils using terms they can understand and providing examples of how the criteria can be met in practice
P3 encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own learning
P4 encourage pupils to keep in mind their learning goals and to assess their own progress to meeting these as they proceed
P5 use the agreed assessment opportunities and strategies to gain information and make judgements about how well the pupils are participating in activities and the progress they are making
P6 provide feedback to pupils to help them understand what they have done well and what they need to develop
P7 be clear and constructive about any weaknesses and how they might be addressed
P8 encourage pupils to review and comment on their work before handing it in or discussing it with the teacher
P9 praise pupils when they focus their comments on the learning goals for the task
P10 provide opportunities and encouragement for pupils to improve upon their work
Support pupils in reviewing their own learning
P11 use information gained from monitoring pupil participation and progress to help pupils to review their learning strategies, achievements and future learning needs
P12 provide time for pupils to reflect upon what they have learnt and understood and to identify where they still have difficulties
P13 listen carefully to pupils and positively encourage them to communicate their needs and ideas for future learning
P14 support pupils in using peer assessment and self-assessment to evaluate their learning achievements
P15 support pupils to reflect on their learning, identify the progress they have made and identify their emerging learning needs
P16 support pupils to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their learning strategies and plan how to improve them P17 provide feedback to the teacher on:
P17.1 pupil participation and progress in the learning activities
P17.2 pupils' engagement in and response to assessment for learning
P18 use the outcomes of assessment for learning to reflect on and improve your own contribution to supporting pupils' learning
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the teacher's responsibility for assessing pupil achievement and your role in supporting this
K2 the difference between formative and summative assessment
K3 the basic principles of how children and young people learn
K4 the interrelationship between motivation and self-esteem, effective learning and progress, and assessment for learning
K5 the relevant school curriculum and age-related expectations of pupils in the subject/curriculum area and age range of the pupils with whom you are working
K6 the importance of having high expectations of pupils and how this is demonstrated through your practice
K7 the importance of believing that every pupil can improve in comparison with previous achievements and the implications of this for how you support pupils' learning
K8 the strategies and techniques for supporting assessment for learning which are within your role and sphere of competence
K9 the importance of working within the boundaries of your role and competence and when you should refer to others
K10 how to communicate clearly and objectively with pupils about their learning goals and achievements
K11 how to encourage pupils to keep in mind their learning goals and to assess their own progress to meeting these as they proceed
K12 how to support pupils in becoming active learners who can take increasing responsibility for their own progress
K13 how to review and reflect on pupil's performance and progress
K14 how to provide constructive feedback to pupils
K15 how to help pupils to review their learning strategies and achievements and plan future learning
K16 the importance of active listening and how to do this
K17 self-assessment techniques and how to support pupils in developing these
K18 how to promote the skills of collaboration in peer assessment
K19 how assessment for learning contributes to planning for future learning carried out by:
K19.1 the teacher
K19.2 the pupils
K19.3 yourself
K20 how to reflect on and learn from experience
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Assessment for learning
involves using assessment, as part of teaching and learning, in ways that will raise pupils’ achievement. The characteristics of assessment for learning are that:
1. it is embedded in a view of teaching and learning of which it is an essential part
2. it involves sharing learning goals with pupils
3. it aims to help pupils to know and to recognise the standards they are aiming for
4. it involves pupils in self-assessment
5. it provides feedback which leads to pupils recognising their next steps and how to take them
6. it is underpinned by confidence that every pupil can improve
7. it involves both teacher and pupils reviewing and reflecting on assessment information
Learning objectives
what the teacher intends the pupils to learn
Assessment strategies the approaches and techniques used for ongoing assessment during lessons or learning activities, such as:
1. using open-ended questions
2. observing pupils
3. listening to how pupils describe their work and their reasoning
4. checking pupils’ understanding
5. engaging pupils in reviewing progress
Success criteria
a summary of the key points that pupils need to understand as steps to success in achieving the learning objectives
Learning goals
the personalised learning targets for individual pupils. Learning goals will relate to the learning objectives and take account of the past achievements and current learning needs of the pupil
Links To Other NOS
TDASTL9 Observe and report on pupil performance
TDASTL18 Support pupils' learning activities
TDASTL23 Plan, deliver and evaluate teaching and learning activities under the direction of a teacher
TDASTL29 Observe and promote pupil performance and development
TDASTL34 Support gifted and talented pupils
TDASTL50 Facilitate children and young people's learning and development through mentoring