EBTS106 - Assessment for Teaching and Learning

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

EBTS100 Teaching, Learning and Context or EBTS102 Teaching and Classroom Management

Unit rationale, description and aim

Effective learning and teaching requires educators to make judgements around student learning throughout the learning cycle. In order to facilitate learning, teachers must be able to deploy effective assessment strategies. This unit focuses on assessment as an essential part of the teaching and learning cycle. Assessment encompasses all activities undertaken by teachers, and/or by their students which provide evidence of student learning. Participants will build their understanding of assessment strategies to enable students to demonstrate what they know and can do. Attention will focus on planning, formative and summative assessments and feedback within a collaborative learning community in the local educational setting. This will culminate in the development and trialing of a range of assessments and developing follow-on activities for a unit of work.

This is one of four units within the mission-focused Certificate in Teaching and Learning which is delivered offshore.

The aim of this unit is to help teachers to develop the ability to design and implement best-practice assessment strategies.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Describe types of assessment used in the learning cycle. (GA1, GA2, GA4)

LO2 - Collect and evaluate evidence of student learning (GA4, GA6, GA7, )

LO3 - Develop a variety of assessment tasks (GA1, GA4, GA5, GA7)

LO4 - Develop and implement activities that build upon student knowledge to achieve learning intentions (GA4, GA5, GA6, GA7)

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

Content

Topics will include: 

• The importance of assessment within teaching and learning cycle
• Linking learning to curriculum documents
• Types of assessments and assessment strategies
• Designing assessment tasks – aligning to outcomes, types of tasks, creating rubrics
• Collecting and evaluating evidence of learning
• Using evidence to develop and implement lessons/activities

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

A variety of learning and teaching approaches are sequenced and integrated to comprise a progressive and developmental learning and teaching strategy emphasising collaborative learning and cultural sensitivity.  Culturally relevant pedagogies accompanied by new pedagogies and critical reflection are explored. Students are encouraged to share experiences and challenges with each other in order to develop a community of practice in their schools. The unit employs stimulating adult learning strategies to maximise student engagement and critical reflection. These include:  

• Face to face learning – seminars, tutorials and workshops
• Collaborative learning
• Practical activities
• Lesson study
• Self-directed study
• Required reading
• Multi-media sources and viewing

Assessment strategy and rationale

The underpinning assessment strategy relates to the need for: 

• Knowledge of context 
• Implementation of pedagogical practices that are culturally appropriate 
• Critical evaluation of teaching and student learning 

Therefore, Assessments include practical activities, presentation of findings and a reflective report. 

The assessment for this unit develops students’ knowledge and skills of both the practical and theoretical aspects of assessment for teaching and learning.  

The assessments encourage students to engage with the scholarship and theory of assessment. The three tasks are constructively aligned with the learning outcomes and facilitate the gradual development of assessment strategies.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Bartlett, J. (2015). Outstanding assessment for learning in the classroom (eBook). Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au 

Black, P., Harrison, C., Lee, C., Marshall, B., & Wiliam, D. (2007). Assessment for Learning. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

Cengage Learning Australia, K., Barker, Nosworthy, Humphries, & Sinclair. (2015). Learning for Teaching, Teaching for Learning with Student Resource Access 12 Months.Melbourne: Cengage Learning Australia.

Leahy, S., Lyon, C., Thompson, M., & Wiliam, D. (2005). Classroom Assessment: Minute by Minute, Day by Day. Educational Leadership, 63(3), 18-24.

Pritchard, A. (2013). Ways of learning : learning theories and learning styles in the classroom (eBook). Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au 

Rieger, A., Radcliffe, B., & Doepker, G. (2013). Practices for Developing Reflective Thinking Skills Among Teachers. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 49(4), 184-189.

Spendlove, D. (2009). Putting assessment for learning into practice (eBook). Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au.

Wiliam, D. (2007). Changing classroom practice.(Informative Assessment). Educational Leadership, 65(4), 36-42.