MAPP11
Assessment for Learning Strategies

MQF Level: 7

ECTS Value: 3 ECTS

Self Study Hours: 36

Duration: 6 Sessions

Contact Hours: 15

Mode of Delivery: Blended

Home/EU/EEA Fees: €105
International Fee: €420

Assessment Hours: 24

Entry Requirements

Applicants applying for the module are to be in possession of one of the following: 

a. A Bachelor’s degree in Education (MQF Level 6 with a minimum of 180 ECTS, or equivalent) together with relevant experience in an educational setting;  

OR 

b. A Bachelor’s degree (MQF Level 6 with a minimum of 180 ECTS, or equivalent) and PGCE (or equivalent) together with relevant experience in an educational setting; 

OR 

c. A Bachelor’s degree in Inclusive Education (MQF Level 6 with a minimum of 180 ECTS, or equivalent) together with 3 years’ relevant experience in an educational setting; 

OR 

d. A Master’s Degree (MQF Level 7 with a minimum of 90 ECTS, or equivalent) and a Permanent Teacher’s Warrant together with relevant experience in an educational setting

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

This module introduces course participants to the concept of assessment for learning (AfL) while also critically examining its strategies, principles and practices. It provides strategies that enhance thinking time, stimulate higher order thinking, and encourage participation from all the students. The module emphasises the development of success criteria and the use reflective practices.

By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

  • Formulate a variety of questions by using open-ended and closed questions in each and every lesson using Bloom’s taxonomy to encourage the learners to come up with their own questions;
  • Carry out classroom techniques to encourage more participation, inclusion, engagement and thinking;
  • Formulate and write clear success criteria according to ability of learners and by considering the steps needed to show learners what they are meant to be doing and what they have achieved;
  • Provide feedback that contains: evidence on where the pupil is now, a definition of the desired goal; and practical strategies to close the gap;
  • Create a learning environment that incorporates peer learning and collaboration, and embraces conferencing and reporting;
  • Ensure that the learner is involved in the assessment process by collecting their own evidence of learning;
  • Ensure that proof of learning is shared between the teacher, parent and the learner.
  • Identify ways of how higher order thinking can be implemented in the classroom;
  • Identify the benefits of sharing success criteria with learners so that learners know what they are meant to be doing and what they have achieved, by evaluating the impact on learning;
  • Define how self and peer assessment can enhance higher order learning, enable learners to be more focused and motivated in their work, improve their self-esteem, and create a positive learning culture;
  • Identify the difference between oral and written feedback;
  • Describe how high-quality formative feedback can impact on pupils’ learning;
  • Identify the different ways through which portfolios can impact on pupils’ learning;
  • Define the active role of conferencing and reporting in the learning process, and how it can bring parents, teachers and learners together;
  • Prepare and pose questions that enable the teacher to collect evidence of the students’ learning gaps;
  • Co-construct success criteria together with learners;
  • Use success criteria to enable quality feedback and self and peer-assessment;
  • Demonstrate the steps needed to implement high quality formative feedback and self and peer-assessment;
  • Design a plan of action of how portfolios can be kept and implemented in the classroom.
  • Discuss the purpose of utilising conferencing and reporting and outline a plan of action of how these can be implemented in the classroom.

This module will be assessed through: Portfolio; Journal.

Core Reading List

  1. Assessment Reform Group (2002) Assessment for Learning: 10 principles, available at http://arg.educ.cam.ac.uk
  2. Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (2018). Classroom Assessment and the Promotion of Effective Learning. Annals of Psychology, 34(1), 1-7.
  3. Chappuis, J., Stiggins, R. J., Chappuis, S., & Arter, J. (2012). Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing It Right – Using It Well (2nd ed.). Pearson.
  4. Drummond, T. (2013) Learning Stories Examples, available at http://tomdrummond.com/learning-story-examples

Supplementary Reading List

  1. Bartlett, J. (2015). Outstanding assessment for learning in the classroom. Routledge.
  2. Government of Malta. Assessment of, for, as Learning. https://curriculum.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/assessment_of_for_as_learning.pdf
  3. Laveault, D., & Allal, L. (Eds.). (2016). Assessment for learning: Meeting the challenge of implementation (Vol. 4). Springer.
 
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