Module 4: Assessment for Learning

Assessment for Learning helps teachers gather evidence of understanding and improve instruction.

Lesson 1: What Assessment for Learning Actually Means

Assessment for Learning is the process of gathering evidence about student understanding while learning is happening. Its purpose is to improve teaching decisions and support student progress.

Lesson 2: Formative vs Summative Assessment

Formative assessment informs teaching during learning. Summative assessment evaluates learning after instruction.

  • Formative: questioning, exit tickets, mini whiteboards.
  • Summative: tests, exams, final projects.

Lesson 3: Checking Understanding During Lessons

Effective teachers constantly gather information about student understanding throughout a lesson. Small checks often provide more useful information than large assessments completed weeks later.

  • Targeted questioning
  • Mini whiteboards
  • Partner explanations
  • Quick quizzes
  • Thumbs up/down checks

Lesson 4: Exit Tickets and Quick Checks

Exit tickets provide immediate information about student learning and help teachers plan future lessons.

  • What is one thing you learned today?
  • What are you still unsure about?
  • Explain today's key idea in one sentence.

Lesson 5: Feedback That Improves Learning

Effective feedback is specific, timely and focused on improvement. Good feedback tells students what they did well and what they should do next.

  • Your explanation is clear.
  • Add evidence to strengthen your argument.
  • Your introduction is strong. Improve your conclusion.

Lesson 6: Using Assessment Information

Assessment only becomes valuable when teachers act on the information collected. Assessment evidence should influence future teaching decisions.

Lesson 7: Common Assessment Mistakes

  • Assessing too late.
  • Only checking confident students.
  • Collecting information but not using it.
  • Providing grades without useful feedback.
  • Using assessment only as accountability.

Key Takeaways

  • Assessment should support learning.
  • Frequent checks provide valuable information.
  • Feedback should guide improvement.
  • Assessment evidence should influence instruction.
  • Assessment is most effective when it is ongoing.

Classroom Challenge

Choose one lesson this week and deliberately use three different formative assessment strategies. Record what you learned about student understanding and how it influenced your teaching decisions.

Professional Reflection

Which assessment strategy could most improve your teaching right now?



What will you change in your classroom as a result of this module?

Module Completion

You have reached the final module of Clearly Teacher Academy. Complete this module to unlock your professional learning certificate.


Congratulations

You have completed the Clearly Teacher Academy Professional Learning Pathway.

Your certificate is now available.

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