Formative assessment and the Assessment Resource Banks Assessment becomes formative when the evidence from assessment is used to adapt teaching and improve learning. How do the Assessment Resource Banks support formative assessment? The Assessment Resource Banks give you access to  resources in English, Mathematics, and Science. You can choose a resource that is suited to the needs, interests, and experiences of your class. You can search for resources that address the same concept in a different context. This allows you to check if students can transfer their learning. The resources are designed to be incorporated into your normal classroom programme. You can choose from a variety of types of tasks, from selected responses to practical open-ended tasks.  For a description of the task classifications go to Types of resources. All the tasks have been trialled with New Zealand students. Many resources include information from the trials that help teachers identify strengths and weaknesses in their students. Resources may include: extra teacher information to assist in their subject knowledge suggestions for possible next learning steps for students other resources to use links to relevant research. All student tasks have an MS Word version that enables you to tailor them to meet specific needs. You can insert a different picture, delete a question, or change a word as required. For instructions go to Copying resources. You have control. Select a range of assessment tasks that match the needs and interests of your students and the context of their learning. Use My Folder to collect suitable resources. How to use My Folder Each resource has a specific assessment focus. They are suitable for checking skills, knowledge, or understanding in a particular area. Use keywords to access the focus you want. English keywords ,Mathematics keywords Science keywords English Assessment Resource Banks Mathematics Assessment Resource Banks Science Assessment Resource Banks How will you assess? Selecting ARB resources for formative assessment Choose resources that: can be included as part of normal classroom activities encourage conversation, either between students, or between student and teacher clearly match the intended learning focus show the criteria against which performance is judged allow students to show what they can do (generally, but not always, open-ended tasks are better) provide feedback to students and the teacher about skills and understanding. If a task meets most but not all your requirements, adapt it using the MS Word version. For example, the class may decide on success criteria for making judgements to their work. The teacher can add these to the task for students to use for self-assessment. How to change a resource Collecting the information Any task or activity that helps a student and teacher pinpoint important learning needs may be used for formative assessment. You can collect information through: observation questioning setting tasks that require students to use skills or apply ideas holding conversations with the students about their work.   Most ARB resources are pen and paper tasks. However, you can choose to use them in different ways. If the assessment focus suits. you may get more valid information for formative purposes by asking the questions orally students responding orally reading the questions to students working in groups using questions as discussion starters talking to students about their responses. Using the information Black and Wiliam say that often teachers collect information using the above methods, but do not use it in ways that promote learning.  They found that effective formative assessment promotes learning involves the teacher believing that every student can improve promotes conversations between student and teacher promotes conversations between students provides feedback and feed forward to students that helps them identify what they need to do to improve encourages students to set their own learning goals allows students to demonstrate what they know and can do clearly indicates to the student what is being assessed makes the performance criteria obvious to the student motivates students to want to learn. To find out more go to Next Steps: Using the Assessment Resource Banks for Formative Assessment To find out more about formative assessment go to TKI's assessment kete. Return to ARBs & assessment.     ARB Home    Please Note: ARB material may be reproduced for school-based assessment purposes, not for sale or other purposes.   The ARBs   Assessment information   Support materials   Help   Contact us   Site map

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