| How can we use tests to show where students are at with their learning? |
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Research taster
Summative tests (such as national curriculum tests and GCSE examinations) are often seen as being incompatible with formative practices, but it is possible to make summative testing formative. This involves taking the time to discuss with your class questions that many students found difficult in the tests and using peer tutoring to tackle problems encountered by a few. Delving beneath the marks and grades in this way will help you and your students to identify what they have learned and strategies that will help them to improve  .
Your evidence
You might like to consider what national tests tell you about your pupils’ learning. You might also like to think about how the testing regime influences your teaching. Perhaps these are issues you could discuss with your colleagues. What are the positive and negative effects of summative testing? Such considerations lead directly to reflection on the real purposes of assessment. Should it be used formatively, to improve learning; or summatively, to measure attainment? Can you meet both goals? (Adapted from reflective activity 8-3c) Moving forward Look at your students’ responses to examination-type questions you have used recently, and consider the form the questions took. Can you adapt them in order to explore pupils understanding in more detail? Would it be helpful to have pupils work in groups in particular areas of difficulty, such as vocabulary or the concepts? Can you ask your pupils to explain their answers to each other, so that they can reflect on their own and their workmates answers? Could you prepare a menu of explanations for pupils to select from through group-work? Find out more  You can find out more about how AfL practices help pupils learn how to learn on the TLRP Learning how to learn project website at: http://www.tlrp.org/proj/phase11/phase2f.htmlYou can find out more about the potential of AfL to develop and improve pupil learning on the GTC’s Research of the Month website at: http://www.gtce.org.uk/research/romtopics/rom_teachingandlearning/raising/ You can find out more about putting AfL into practice on the GTC’s Research of the Month website at: http://www.gtce.org.uk/policyandresearch/research/ROMtopics/afl/ You can find more further reading suggestions on the theme of assessment for learning at: http://www.rtweb.info/ch14/nfr14.html |
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