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
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