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Research taster
To be effective at learning, learners need to know:
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where they are in their learning
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where they are going and
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how to get there.
AfL helps pupils to develop these capabilities  . It involves learners and teachers seeking and interpreting evidence in order to help with this process. With an effect size of between 0.4 and 0.7, it is one of the highest impact innovations in teaching and learning. An effect size of 0.7 would improve performances of secondary school students in GCSE by between one and two grades, and possibly three grades for the lowest attainers.
Your evidence
You might like to think about developing one particular AfL practice with your classes – either a new practice, or one which you use already (such as effective questioning, comment only feedback, sharing criteria with learners, peer and self-assessment). You could plan a lesson that lets you focus on your chosen AfL practice. As the lesson progresses try to be alert to the effect the AfL practice is having on two or three pupils. You could consider how it helps them to see where they are in their learning, where they need to go next and what will help them to get there. After the lesson you could note down your observations.
Moving forward
You may like to reflect on your observations to see how you might have made the learning process clearer to these pupils. Would sharing your ideas and findings with a colleague who is similarly working on formative assessment strategies help you to improve your practice of this particular AfL strategy on pupils’ learning? How might you develop your chosen strategy in another curriculum area?
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.html
You 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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