Video Script
Welcome to Module 3 – Assessment in Action. Now that you understand the foundations of formative assessment and effective feedback techniques, let’s explore how to put these strategies into practice in your classroom.
[SHOW SLIDE: Module Objectives]
In this module, we’ll focus on four key areas: building peer support and student ownership, making in-the-moment assessment adjustments, communicating effectively with parents, and creating sustainable routines.
Let’s start with encouraging peer support and student ownership of learning.
[CUT TO EXAMPLE: Classroom scene]
Peer assessment transforms your pupils from passive recipients to active partners in learning. When you establish clear success criteria, pupils can meaningfully assess each other’s work. For example, in a writing lesson, provide a simple checklist: “Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end?” This gives pupils concrete criteria to work with.
Student ownership develops when pupils understand their learning journey. Use traffic light systems where children self-assess their confidence levels, or learning logs where they reflect on what they’ve understood and what still challenges them.
[SHOW SLIDE: In-the-Moment Adjustments]
Effective assessment happens during teaching, not just at the end. Watch for those tell-tale signs – confused faces, incorrect responses, or silence when you expect engagement. These are your cues to adjust immediately.
Here’s a practical technique: the “30-second scan.” Every few minutes, quickly scan the room for understanding signals. If you spot confusion, address it there and then with a brief clarification or different explanation approach.
[CUT TO EXAMPLE: Parent communication]
Communicating progress to parents requires translating assessment evidence into clear, actionable language. Instead of saying “Emma needs to work on her maths,” try “Emma confidently adds two-digit numbers but would benefit from practising her times tables – particularly 3s and 4s – to support her multiplication work.”
[SHOW SLIDE: Sustainable Routines]
Finally, sustainable assessment routines prevent burnout while maintaining effectiveness. Choose two or three assessment strategies that align with your teaching style and school expectations. Consistency trumps variety – it’s better to use mini-whiteboards effectively every lesson than to overwhelm yourself with different techniques.
Remember, research shows that formative assessment can lead to two additional months’ progress, but only when implemented consistently and thoughtfully.
The key to assessment in action is making it seamless – a natural part of your teaching rhythm rather than an additional burden.
Reading
Peer Support and Student Ownership
Encouraging peer support transforms the classroom dynamic from teacher-directed assessment to collaborative learning. Evidence supports peer assessment as one of the five key formative assessment strategies, but implementation requires careful structure.
Effective Peer Assessment Strategies:
- Two Stars and a Wish: Pupils identify two positive aspects and one improvement suggestion
- Gallery Walks: Display work around the room for peer review using success criteria
- Think-Pair-Share: Individual reflection followed by peer discussion before class sharing
- Response Partners: Designated partnerships for regular peer feedback
Building Student Ownership:
Student ownership develops through metacognitive strategies that help pupils understand their own learning processes. This includes:
- Learning Intentions Ownership: Begin lessons by asking pupils to predict what they’ll learn
- Success Criteria Co-creation: Involve pupils in defining what success looks like
- Reflection Routines: End lessons with “What did I learn?” and “What do I still need to understand?”
- Goal Setting: Help pupils set specific, achievable learning targets
> Key Point: Student ownership reduces teacher workload while increasing learning effectiveness. When pupils can self-assess accurately, they require less teacher-directed feedback.
In-the-Moment Assessment Adjustments
Teachers should use ongoing checks to inform teaching, including observing practical tasks and noting pupil responses. This requires developing assessment radar – the ability to quickly gauge understanding across the whole class.
Rapid Assessment Techniques:
- Exit Tickets: Three questions on post-it notes at lesson end
- Thumbs Assessment: Quick confidence checks during explanations
- Mini-Whiteboards: Immediate whole-class response gathering
- Question Stems: “Show me…” “Tell your partner…” “Demonstrate…”
Adjustment Strategies:
When assessment reveals misconceptions or gaps:
- Immediate Re-teaching: Address whole-class misconceptions immediately
- Flexible Grouping: Create temporary groups based on understanding levels
- Differentiated Tasks: Provide alternative activities for different ability groups
- Scaffolding Addition: Add visual supports or worked examples as needed
Communicating Progress to Parents
The Teachers’ Standards require NQTs to demonstrate assessment skills and provide regular feedback, including communication with families. Effective parent communication builds home-school partnerships that support learning.
Evidence-Based Communication:
- Use specific examples from pupil work
- Reference curriculum objectives and age-related expectations
- Include both strengths and development areas
- Provide concrete suggestions for home support
Communication Formats:
- Learning Conferences: Pupil-led discussions with parents about their progress
- Portfolio Sharing: Curated work samples showing progress over time
- Learning Stories: Narrative accounts of pupil achievements and next steps
- Target Cards: Clear, specific goals for home and school collaboration
Building Sustainable Routines
Research reveals NQTs are often surprised by the assessment workload and need targeted support. Sustainability requires strategic choices rather than attempting every possible technique.
Sustainable Assessment Framework:
- Core Techniques: Choose 2-3 methods that align with your teaching style
- Weekly Cycles: Establish predictable assessment patterns
- Efficient Recording: Use simple systems that capture essential information
- Technology Integration: Leverage digital tools for streamlined data collection
> Remember: Ofsted recognises marking and feedback as important but does not expect specific frequency, type or volume – schools decide through assessment policy to be effective and efficient.
Time-Saving Strategies:
- Assessment Walls: Display ongoing work for quick visual progress checks
- Pupil Self-Recording: Train pupils to track their own progress
- Focused Marking: Target specific learning objectives rather than marking everything
- Voice Notes: Record quick verbal feedback using smartphone apps
The goal is creating assessment routines that inform your teaching decisions without overwhelming your workload or reducing teaching quality.
Activity
Assessment Routine Design Challenge
Objective: Create a sustainable weekly assessment routine for your classroom
Time Required: 7 minutes
Instructions:
- Context Setting (1 minute): Think about your current class and a specific subject you teach. Consider your school’s assessment policy and any existing requirements.
- Strategy Selection (2 minutes): From the techniques covered in this module and previous modules, choose:
- One daily quick-check method (e.g., exit tickets, mini-whiteboards)
- One peer/self-assessment strategy (e.g., two stars and a wish, traffic lights)
- One weekly progress review method (e.g., learning logs, target setting)
- Weekly Plan Creation (3 minutes): Map your chosen strategies across a typical week:
- Monday: [Your chosen daily method]
- Tuesday: [Your chosen daily method]
- Wednesday: [Your chosen daily method + peer assessment]
- Thursday: [Your chosen daily method]
- Friday: [Your chosen daily method + weekly review]
- Sustainability Check (1 minute): Review your plan and ask:
- Can I realistically implement this every week?
- Does it provide the information I need to adjust my teaching?
- How will I record and use the assessment information?
Expected Outcome: A practical, personalised assessment routine that you can implement in your classroom from next week. This routine should balance effectiveness with sustainability, providing regular insights into pupil progress without overwhelming your workload.
Extension: Share your routine with a colleague or mentor for feedback before implementation.