EDUCATION CORNER
Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning:
Where am I going?
1. Provide a clear and understandable vision of the
learning target.
2. Use examples and models of strong and weak work.
Where and I now?
3. Offer regular descriptive feedback.
4. Teach students to self-assess and set goals.
Based upon her text Seven Strategies of Assessment
for Learning, Ms. Chappuis underscored the important
role that assessment plays all throughout the learning
process to promote student growth, not just the
traditional uses of assessment at the end of a unit
or term to verify student achievement. Some of
the specific topics explored during the professional
development was the use of high-impact formative
assessment practices, students’ goal orientations and
their influence on their motivation to learn, discussion
activities that engage all learners, characteristics of
effective feedback, and the use of rubrics to increase
student learning. Throughout the training sessions,
Daystar staff reflected on how each topic relates
to their professional practice and discussed ways
to integrate the training material into their daily
instruction.
“
How can I close the gap?
5. Design lessons to focus on one aspect of quality at
a time.
6. Teach students focused revision.
7. Engage students in self-reflection and let them
keep track of and share their learning.
Ms. Chappuis reinforced for me that
assessment is not just about numbers
and rankings. She underscored that
assessment is also about “heart” and
about gathering information that will
promote student learning in every lesson.
Daphne Akut, Grade 2 English Language
Arts Teacher, Daystar Beigao Campus
”
Following the two-day workshop, Daystar leaders
had an opportunity to extend their learning with a
special small-group session with Ms. Chappuis to
discuss next steps in supporting implementation of
the training content. During the remainder of the
school year, teachers will continue to practice and
refine the formative assessment strategies explored
during the training. As well, staff are looking forward
to examining ways to further refine our assessment
practices with the overarching goal of empowering
our students to be lifelong learners.
About Jan Chappuis
Ms. Chappuis has been an elementary and
secondary teacher as well as a curriculum
developer in language arts, mathematics,
social studies, and world languages. For
the past twenty-five years, she has written
books and developed workshops focused on
classroom assessment literacy. A respected
thought leader in the area of formative
assessment, Ms. Chappuis has presented both
nationally and internationally and is best
known for her work in translating research
into practical classroom applications.
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