Assessment for Learning

Useful Information

AfL at Ysgol Glanymor

Paul Black

An INSET school closure day was held at Ysgol Glanymor on 5th January 2007 led by Paul Black, emeritus professor of science at King's College London and co-director of the Assessment for Learning Group alsongside Christine Harrison. Paul's opening presentation reflected the work of the King's AfL Group based on the research undertaken by Black and William entitled Assessment and Classroom Learning (1998).

The main focus of the day centred on the need to improve pupils' learning by enhancing feedback. Paul emphasised that an assessment activity can help learning if it provides information to be used as feedback, by teachers, and by their pupils, in assessing themselves and each other, to modify the teaching and learning activities in which they are engaged. Paul developed this arguement by emphasising the need for feedback through discussion and in written work through peer and self assesment as well as through the formative use of tests. Paul Black 2

The morning's workshop activities focused on questioning, classroom dialogue and comment only marking and allowed groups of teachers working in departments, as well as a group of primary colleagues from within the school family to examine and comment upon materials provided by Paul. The afternoon's workshop provided an opportunity for departments to begin the process of action planning for new strategies, the outcomes of which were shared during the plenary session. Staff were appreciative of the insights Paul shared, providing the basis for further work in which a whole school action plan for AfL will be produced.

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