Formative Assessment Strategies for Effective Teaching and Learning

Completing Formative Assessment Strategies for Effective Teaching and Learning will contribute 5 hours and 30 minutes of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and Assessment of NSW Curriculum/EYLF addressing Standard Descriptor(s) 5.1.2 and 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Course Overview:

Section One:

The section provides an introduction to formative assessment and its benefits for student learning, such as, enhancing student engagement, motivation, and achievement. Different types of formative assessment will be introduced, including diagnostic assessments, exit tickets, “four corners” quizzes, as well as peer and self-assessment methods using conventional paper-based methods or with ICTs like Google Forms.

Section Two:

In this section of the course, participants will explore diagnostic assessment that can be used to assess student learning, before commencing a course or unit of work. Participants will explore diagnostic assessments which can be used to identify students’ prior knowledge and skills in a particular subject area; in order to establish the “baseline” for student knowledge and understanding against which future assessment performance can be compared and measured. The instructor will provide specific examples of diagnostic assessments, such as pre-tests and concept maps, and will demonstrate how these assessments can be used to tailor instruction to students’ needs using methods such as “branching” (sending students to different question banks based on their responses to a question or groups of questions [enabling effective differentiation as well]) with quizzes made using ICTs or with quizzes made and delivered using traditional methods (paper).

Section Three:

Participants will learn the importance of setting clear and SMART learning goals. The module covers various assessment types, like quizzes and essays, guiding participants in choosing the right one for specific goals. Participants also discover how to design clear and helpful rubrics, with defined performance levels and examples. The course includes strategies for involving students in self and peer assessment, promoting an interactive learning experience.

Section Four:

Participants will learn how to effectively use formative assessment data to improve student learning using technology tools such as spreadsheets and graphs to track student progress over time. The course will provide examples of how to use this data to make informed decisions about instructional strategies, including adjusting lesson plans and interventions based on student needs.