|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Assessment for LearningHelp using this resourceHelp provides advice on how to navigate around the Assessment for Learning website. The site has been designed for use by Australian teachers to encourage the practice of assessment for learning. The website has seven main menu items located on the Assessment for Learning Home page.
Main menuAbout usThis page describes Curriculum Corporation and its services. Assessment for learningThis menu provides:
Assessment tasksThis page provides details of the contents of the assessment tasks, and access to the tasks. Once a user selects a region, the tasks available are specific to that State or Territory. Your detailsSo that we can provide you with materials relevant to your State or Territory, we ask you to fill in three details about yourself: your State or Territory; the sector you work in, for example primary, secondary, government; and your role, for example teacher, curriculum developer, administrator. Users from outside Australia will see content from all States and Territories. We also use this information to keep simple statistics on the use of the Assessment for Learning website, to help ensure that the site meets the needs of its users. Once you have registered, you won't have to re-register to go to another part of the site during your visit. You can return to the your details page by following the breadcrumbs at the top of the page, or by clicking on the State or Territory link at the top of the left hand menu bar. If you leave your computer unused for 20 minutes, the system will close the current connection, and you will have to submit your details again. Professional learningFive professional learning modules are provided on the website. The introduction page gives ideas for delivering the modules, a key to the icons used, and, if you haven't already logged in elsewhere, access to the modules by selecting a region. Contact usThis links to an email page enabling users to forward any queries or comments. You can also contact us on (03) 9207 9600, or Freecall within Australia outside the Melbourne metropolitan area on 1800 337 405 between 9 am and 5 pm EST. Our fax numbers are 1300 780 545 (within Australia) and +61 3 9639 1616 (international). LinksThis page provides links to resources relevant to assessment for learning – websites, research papers, books – and to State and Territory curriculum statements and principles. SearchThis facility provides users with links to state-specific information within the site. You can search by keyword or phrase, or by selecting from the menus provided. Further information is found in the Search tips.
Assessment tasksTo illustrate and encourage the use of assessment for learning, teachers are provided with a number of assessment tasks. Task componentsEach task has the following components:
The teaching and learning activities in this section are classroom activities that teachers might use in order to consolidate or refine student performance in relation to the expected qualities outlined in the rubric.
Rubrics are scoring or marking guides that list the qualities to be demonstrated in the completed task and describe the indicators that define student performance, skills and/or understanding of key concepts. Their use can provide increased consistency in the marking process and also give students an established set of expectations about what will be assessed and what standards need to be met. The annotated worksamples serve to support and illustrate the rubrics. Teachers might consider involving students in the design of marking rubrics so that they better understand the qualities expected in the final product or performance. The student rubric provides the opportunity for self-assessment, and teachers are directed to the two professional learning modules – 'Designing and using rubrics' and 'Student self-assessment' – for further discussion and strategies.
ResourcesEach task contains a number of resources for teachers and students. Student worksheets, teacher and student rubrics and the diagnostic grids are in Word 95 so that teachers can save these to their files and adapt them to suit the needs of their students. Several student resources are only available as PDF documents, and can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, click here to download the latest free version from the Adobe website. Annotated worksamplesEach task is accompanied by a number of worksamples. These were generated during the trialling of the tasks by teachers in classrooms across Australia and have been marked and moderating by a marking panel using the marking rubric. ComponentsThe annotated worksamples comprise:
Using the annotated worksamples
Annotation letter buttonsEach worksample has a number of annotation letter buttons. When the mouse is held over these, they display the relevant expected qualities from the rubrics. (These rubrics can be accessed by clicking on the rubric buttons on the left hand navigation bar, or by returning to the task and linking from within the task.) Page selection buttonIf the worksample has more than one page, a button appears for each page. The current page will be highlighted. Worksample Help? buttonClicking on the Help? button at the right of the worksample gives further advice on using this page, and a link to download Flash Player, needed to make the best use of this website. Worksample presentation pagesTo open the interactive Flash pages, click on the Open viewer button or the annotation letter buttons on the worksamples. Video worksamplesWe have made every possible effort to make video material readily usable for a range of web browsers. Users accessing the site via modem may experience download times of up to four minutes. The slider bar informs users about the progress of the download.
Professional learningOne of the main purposes of this site is to provide professional learning for teachers in regard to assessment for learning, also known as formative assessment. The learning area assessment tasks are therefore supported by five state-specific professional learning modules: Designing and using rubrics, Effective feedback, Strategic questioning, Student self-assessment and How to use the worksamples. StructureEach module has two parts: a PowerPoint™ presentation (which can also be viewed in OpenOffice available at www.openoffice.org) and a workshop. Speaker's notes can be printed by selecting print from your tool bar, and then choosing to print 'Notes pages'. The Speaker's notes are also provided for each module in Word. In each case it is intended that the presentation precede the workshop. DeliveryThese modules could be delivered:
In terms of time allocation, the modules could be delivered in more than one way:
Key to iconsThe following icons are used in these modules.
Technical specificationsApplicationsApplications used in this website are:
BrowsersThe Assessment for Learning site is best viewed using HTML 4.0-compliant browsers. Internet Explorer 5+, Netscape 6+, and Safari are recommended. AccessibilityA number of features have been built in to the Assessment for Learning site to ensure maximum accessibility where possible:
Known issues
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
