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 find resources that address the same concept in a different context. This allows you to check if students can transfer their learning. Many resources have an MS Word version that enables you to tailor the resource to meet your specific needs. You can insert a different picture, delete a question, or change a word as required. 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 Most resources are suitable for teaching, learning, or assessment. You can choose from a variety of types of tasks, from selected responses to practical open-ended tasks.  For example, you can select a short task that takes only a few minutes to complete, and which allows individual students' or small groups' responses to be checked within the normal teaching period. 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. Some resources 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. Some resources are linked to: self- and peer-assessment sheets exemplars of children's work automated checklists that can be tailored to students' learning goals. English Assessment Resource Banks Mathematics Assessment Resource Banks Science Assessment Resource Banks How will you assess for learning? 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. 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. More information To find out more about formative assessment go to TKI's assessment kete. To find out how some schools have used the ARB for assessment go to Case studies. Go 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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