In classrooms where assessment for learning is practiced, students know at the outset of a unit of study what they are expected to learn. At the beginning of the unit, the teacher will work with the student to understand what she or he already knows about the topic as well as to identify any gaps or misconceptions (initial/diagnostic assessment). As the unit progresses, the teacher and student work together to assess the student’s knowledge, what she or he needs to learn to improve and extend this knowledge, and how the student can best get to that point (formative assessment). Assessment for learning occurs at all stages of the learning process.

Researchers whose work has informed much of this assessment reform include Ken O’Connor, Grant Wigginshttp://www.ltag.education.tas.gov.au, Jay McTighehttp://www.ltag.education.tas.gov.au, Richard Stigginshttp://www.assessmentinst.com/author/rick-stiggins/, Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam, Thomas Guskey, Damian Cooperhttp://www.damiancooperassessment.com and Ronán Howe.

Historical Perspective

In past decades, teachers would design a unit of study that would typically include objectives, teaching strategies, and resources. An evaluation component—the test or examination—may or may not have been included as part of this design (Cooper, 2006). The student’s mark on this test or exam was taken as the indicator of his or her understanding of the topic.

Definitions

There are a number of assessment terms that will appear in any discussion of assessment. Listed below are common interpretations of some of these terms:

Assessment
A working definition of Assessment for learning from a widely cited article contends:

"the term ‘assessment’ refers to all those activities undertaken
by teachers, and by their students in assessing themselves, which
provide information to be used as feedback to modify the
teaching and learning activities in which they are engaged.

Since this seminal article, educators have differentiated assessment according to its purpose:

Assessment for learning

• comprises two phases—initial or diagnostic assessment and formative assessment
• assessment can be based on a variety of information sources (e.g., portfolios, works in progress, teacher observation, conversation)
• verbal or written feedback to the student is primarily descriptive and emphasizes strengths, identifies challenges, and points to next steps
• as teachers check on understanding they adjust their instruction to keep students on track
• no grades or scores are given - record-keeping is primarily anecdotal and descriptive
• occurs throughout the learning process, from the outset of the course of study to the time of summative assessment

Assessment as learning

• begins as students become aware of the goals of instruction and the criteria for performance
• involves goal-setting, monitoring progress, and reflecting on results
• implies student ownership and responsibility for moving his or her thinking forward (metacognition)
• occurs throughout the learning process

Assessment of learning

• assessment that is accompanied by a number or letter grade (summative)
• compares one student’s achievement with standards
• results can be communicated to the student and parents
• occurs at the end of the learning unit

Evaluation

• judgment made on the basis of a student’s performance

Diagnostic assessment (now referred to more often as "pre-assessment")

• assessment made to determine what a student does and does not know about a topic

assessment made to determine a student's learning style or preferences
used to determine how well a student can perform a certain set of skills related to a particular subject or group of subjects

• occurs at the beginning of a unit of study
• used to inform instruction:makes up the initial phase of assessment for learning

Formative assessment

• assessment made to determine a student’s knowledge and skills, including learning gaps as they progress through a unit of study
• used to inform instruction and guide learning
• occurs during the course of a unit of study
• makes up the subsequent phase of assessment for learning

Summative assessment

• assessment that is made at the end of a unit of study to determine the level of understanding the student has achieved
• includes a mark or grade against an expected standard

Principles of Assessment for Learning

Among the most comprehensive listing of principles of assessment for learning are those written by the QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)http://www.qca.org.uk. The authority, which is sponsored by England’s Department for Children, Schools and Families

Department for Children, Schools and Families

The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...

, is responsible for national curriculum, assessment, and examinations. Their principal focus on crucial aspects of assessment for learning, including how such assessment should be seen as central to classroom practice, and that all teachers should regard assessment for learning as a key professional skill.

The UK Assessment Reform Group (1999) identifies 'The big 5 principles of assessment for learning

• 1. The provision of effective feedback to students.
• 2. The active involvement of students in their own learning.
• 3. Adjusting teaching to take account of the results of assessment.
• 4. Recognition of the profound influence assessment has on the motivation and self esteem of pupils, both of which are critical influences on learning.
• 5. The need for students to be able to assess themselves and understand how to improve.

Feedback

The purpose of an Assessment for Learning (AFL) task is to provide feedback to both the teacher and learner regarding the learner's progress towards achieving the learning objective(s). This feedback should be used by the teacher to revise and develop further instruction. An effective AFL method is to use a performance task coupled with a rubric

Rubric (academic)

A rubric is an assessment tool for communicating expectations of quality. Rubrics support student self-reflection and self-assessment as well as communication between assessor and assessees...

. This type of assessment is fundamental in illustrating how and why such principles need to be adhered to.

Sources

Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC) http://www.aac.ab.ca

Cooper, Damian. (2006). Talk About Assessment: Strategies and Tools to Improve Learning. Toronto, ON: Thomson Nelson.

Government of British Columbia http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/classroom_assessment

Manitoba Education, Citizenship, and Youth. (2006) Rethinking Assessment with Purpose in Mind: assessment for learning, assessment as learning, assessment of learning Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: MECYhttp://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/assess/wncp/index.html

O’Connor, Ken. (2002). How to Grade for Learning. Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight.

QCA http://www.qca.org.uk

Wiggins, Grant. (1998). Educative Assessment. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.