Formative Assessment In Student Learning

Reflection Paper 1 About the explicit curriculum Vs implicit curriculum In order to clarify about preferring of explicit curriculum or implicit curriculum, the learners must be understood how both curriculums works as a field of education. Teachers designing their curriculum must consider how the environment of the classroom will impact students. A student will learn from what is taught in a class and from how that class is taught. That student will also take lessons from how her/his class and school are organized.

Students become self-reflected learners; they take responsibility for their own learning. The key to assessment as learning enables students to develop the capacity to monitor their own work in progress which the teachers support through encouragement and monitoring. ( Dear Hammond, L. (2012) Based on curriculum expectations and the achievement charts, the students are taught to use rubrics, samples and models as a good practice. In addition, formative assessment is a procedure utilized by instructors and students amid guideline that gives unequivocal input to alter progressing educating and figuring out how to enhance students ' accomplishment of planned instructional outcomes. Formative evaluation is a technique for persistently assessing students ' scholastic needs and advancement inside the classroom and goes before nearby benchmark appraisals and state-commanded summative assessments.

Research shows that evidence-based teaching strategies have a huge impact on students learning (Wilson et al.,2006). Student centered approach is a principal of communicative language teaching. This evidence-based practice involves engaging students actively in learning which are relevant to the classroom. In my class room, I use different methods to teach my diverse learners, in which they solve problems, formulate questions of their own, discuss things and explain by them during the

Redl and Wattenberg believe that students behave differently when they are in a group than they would individually. Behavior is influenced through group dynamics and peer pressure. Because of this, teachers need to manipulate the whole group of students, not just individuals. Redl and Wattenberg believe that in order for teachers to be effective in disciplining students, they must use encouragement and use punishment sparingly.

In the Educational Leadership article entitle “The Boss of My Brain”, authors Donna Wilson and Marcus Conyers examines the explicit instruction in metacognition. Researchers stated that “explicit instruction in metacognition puts students in charge of their learning.” It was also stated that “meta-cognition supports learning by enabling us to actively think about which cognitive strategies can help achieve learning, how we should apply those strategies, how we can review our progress, and whether we need to adjust our thinking.” I believe this a unique teaching tool for teachers to implement with their students. With the use of metacognition, students whether they are struggling learners or gifted can learn how to use a variety of cognitive strategies to help improve their learning.

To fix the problem that standardized testing has started, there should be something other than testing to focus on. While testing can be beneficial in some ways, it is way too much of a focus in education today. Critical thinking should be focused on more in schools rather than testing, because it will prepare students for future problems. Critical thinking is more about the process used to find the answer rather than the answer itself. Standardized testing has become a problem because it causes students to memorize things rather than use a process to find an answer.

Under this definition, it can be said that assessments become formative when the information is used to adapt teaching and learning to meet student needs. When teachers know how students are progressing and where they are having trouble, they can use this information to make necessary instructional adjustments. These adjustments may be reteaching, trying alternative instructional approaches, or offering more opportunities for practice and they can improve student success. Black and Wiliam (1998a) conducted an extensive research review of 250 journal articles and book chapters winnowed from a much larger pool to determine whether formative assessment raises academic standards in the classroom. They found out that formative assessment produce significant learning gains as measured by comparing the average improvements in the test scores of the students involved in the innovation with the range of scores found for typical groups of students on the same tests.

There are different strategies that can be used by the teachers for effective class management among which the most significant is clearly setting out the format of lessons. This is done with the help of setting objectives and aims, giving regular positive feedback, reviewing the learning outcomes and giving an in depth summary and final exercise to the students. While on the other hand, the teacher can also make use of rubrics for understanding the abilities of students. The teachers can also make use of self-reflection as the strategy for class management because it helps the students in analysing their own learning and development abilities. With the help of this strategy, the teacher would be able to determine the pros and cons of each

It also helps to measure the teachers teaching as both are actively involved in the process. Assessment can be summative or formative. Formative assessment starts from gauging the prior knowledge of the learner to the mid plenary and the differentiated task done by the students. Group and pair discussions, Self and peer marking done by the students, a detailed analysis of the students work or a simple answer given by the learner during the lesson. Taking learner feedback helps teachers to identify individual or group needs of learning.

Many teaching strategies and learning activities address this notion. For example, Problem-based Learning Theory (an amalgamation of Cognitive and Social Constructivist theories, by Piaget (1920) and Vygotsky (1978), respectively), is a hands-on, active learning technique that lets students be independent thinkers and problem-solvers through investigation, where the teacher is a facilitator. Other models which guarantee student engagement include Discovery Learning by Bruner (1961), Experiential Learning by Kolb (1984) and 21st Century Skills. These models provide maximum opportunities for students to experience with materials and resources, collaborate, socialize, analyse and solve problems related to real life. Teachers can employ instruction which is clear, communicate their objectives vividly, design a plan using a variety of strategies and resources, ask questions frequently and effectively and have brain-storming sessions, attention grabbing starters, pre-while-post technology hands-on, debates, role plays, enquiries, case studies, research, multimedia presentations, group work, simulation by audios and videos, games, interactive plenaries, inventories, quizzes etc.

ISLLC Standard 2.A. states principals should create a culture of collaboration and trust. If the Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) felt pressured to take on additional duties, then she is not going to develop a trusting relationship with the administration. ISLLC Standard 2.C. states principals should ensure a personalized and motivating learning environment for students. Teachers stretched too thin on duties outside the classroom will not perform classroom duties to the best of their

Supervisors are expected to help their staff develop plans that will offer the best education for students. In fact, the goal is for supervisors to gradually encourage teachers to become more involved in the decision-making process. In these cases, it is evident all four teachers need some level of direction from their educational leaders to help them find resolutions for their respective problems. In case one, teacher Gerald Watson’s developmental level was very low. He needs the most preparation time and his skill level causes the highest level of concern.