Currently available professional development programs that can help practitioners learn to use classroom assessment FOR student learning.
Formative Assessment Interview Series
Rick responds to a series of 11 questions about formative assessment practices posted to him by the Alberta Assessment consortium. The video segments can be viewed as order here, reordered as needed, or viewed selectively.
Need for Further Research on Formative Assessment
Rick asserts that we know what we need to know about sound formative practices and their potential for positive impact on student success to move to implementation. But the foundation of success in doing so will be a strong foundation of assessment literacy.
Bringing Parents and Communities on Board
Rick directs that local school district leaders show parents what 21st Century classroom assessment practices look like and reveal to them the research evidence of positive impacts on student learning success and academic self-efficacy.
Policy Makers, Please Listen and Learn
To set and implement strong assessment policies, one must bring a strong foundation of assessment literacy to the process, or a clear understanding of principles of sound assessment practices.
How to Get Started
The very best starting place, Rick contends, is for teachers and local school leaders to engage in a high-quality professional development program in formative classroom assessment. He urges them to become assessment literate in those terms.
Support All Student, Especially the Most Vulnerable
Rick focuses on the concept of academic self-efficacy or extent to which students feel in control of their own academic well-being. He details how principles of “assessment FOR learning” or formative assessment can strengthen a student’s sense of efficacy.