Why might ITE courses pursue student teachers’ dual engagement, as adult learners and student teachers, with Assessment for Learning? 2 nd TEAN Conference Manchester 2011 Donna Hurford University of Cumbria

Presentation Outline Framing and reframing an AfL question Initial Context: theory and practice Re-interpreting student learners and AfL Alternative perspectives Interpreting data or cautious intimations Answering or reframing the question What next?

Framing the question …if teachers and student teachers struggle with their own ability to engage independently in learning, their effectiveness in enabling pupils to become independent learners may be compromised. This inability to engage with independent learning may in turn have implications for all phases of education. Read and Hurford, 2008, p. 49 If they are to become confident and informed practitioners of AfL in their own learning and as teachers they need to experience and recognise the value of AfL for all learners. Slater et al., 2009, p.133

Framing and reframing the question Why might ITE courses pursue student teachers’ dual engagement, as adult learners and student teachers, with Assessment for Learning? What effect does student teachers’ engagement with Assessment for Learning as adult learners have on their practice as student teachers?

Context: theory and practice AfL in schools AfL observed on placement Model and embed AfL in ITE course Teacher pedagogy Outcome (s) AfL for adults Sadler, 1998; Rust et al, 2003; Boud, 1988 Loughran, 2006 Linking learning Slater et al 2009; Read and Hurford, 2008 Various Reality Philosophy Ward, 2008; DCSF, 2008; Alexander, 2009 Black &Wiliam, 2003; Assessment Reform Group, 2002

AfL opportunities for adult learners: Course expectation: autonomous or independent learners and deep learning (Boud, 1988; Entwistle, 1996) Generate assessment criteria (Assessment Reform Group, 2002) Engage with formative potential of generic feedback (Black and Wiliam, 2003) Peer dialogue on formative assessment (Black and Wiliam, 2003) Interpret tutor feedback (Rust et al. 2003) Engage with exemplars of quality (Sadler, 2007; 2009)

Linking learning AfL in schools AfL observed on placement Model and embed AfL in ITE course Teacher pedagogy Outcome (s) AfL for adults Sadler, 1998; Rust et al, 2003; Boud, 1988 Loughran, 2006 Linking learning Slater et al 2009; Read and Hurford, 2009 Various Reality Philosophy Ward, 2008; DCSF, 2008; Alexander, 2009 Black &Wiliam, 2003; Assessment Reform Group, 2002

Linking learning: student learners and AfL Higher Education Initial Teacher Education Primary School

Re-interpreting student learners and AfL I did a Business Studies degree, we tended to do more group projects than individual assignments. I’m anxious about having to write essays, it’s been five years since I wrote one. I have some classroom experience; I volunteered at my child’s school for a day a week for two terms; I know what sort of teacher I want to be... I don’t know what all these terms mean. Is Assessment for Learning another government initiative? I’m relying on the course to tell me what I need to know... I’m relieved to get a place on this course; it’s the only one that fits in with my work and family commitments. I prefer to study independently, I’m good at managing my time... I’m keen to get started now, I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was at school but it’s only now I have the opportunity...

Alternative perspectives Tobell et al draw on Wenger’s (1998 cited in Tobell et al. 2010, p.266) terminology and refer to these new-to-post-graduate-study students as ‘peripheral participants’ ‘data suggests that practice of independence is encouraged by an absence of information rather than an active facilitation of helpful practices’ Tobell et al, 2010, p.274

Alternative perspectives ‘I wanted to understand why it was that some students did not engage as expected…’ Hockings, 2009, p.88 ‘With more information about students’ epistemological, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, a more holistic picture of the factors influencing academic engagement and participation would emerge. This, I conjecture, would be more useful than any single perspective analysis for the purposes of developing pedagogies designed to engage all students.’ Hockings, 2009, p. 95

Alternative perspectives ‘Phenomenography investigates the qualitatively different ways in which people experience or think about various phenomena.’ Sherman, 1988, p.144 ‘when investigating people’s understanding of various phenomena, concepts and principles, we repeatedly found that each phenomenon, concept or principle can be understood in a limited number of qualitatively different ways.’ Sherman, 1988, p.143

Interpreting Data How do you think these approaches, have, if at all, affected your engagement as an adult learner? Do you think there is a link between understanding and practising AfL and IL as an adult learner and as a teacher? Yes – No – Maybe- Don’t Know Provide an explanation for your answer 1. Gave me the opportunity to think about my learning and where I felt the gaps were or if I was confident in areas MaybeBecause there would appear to be a link between the reflective elements and identifying learning needs 2. Student generated success criteria has made the criteria clearer and easier to understand Yesunderstanding practically as a learner has helped my teaching. Provided a context and I can see that works from my own learning 3. I know that I have sole responsibility for my own learning and am aware of resources I need to access in order to progress Don’t KnowNo response 4. I used every opportunity to learn and gain more knowledge and insight Don’t KnowI'm not sure what you mean. I prioritised my learning needs, identified weak spots and found ways of plugging those gaps and moving on in my learning using independent study 5. Helped to take ownership of the assignments for Ed studies and feel more involved with the subject No ResponseI think there is a link, but it is not an easy concept and I think more should be done to help with applying the concept in our teaching practice

‘It is a goal of phenomenography to discover the structural framework within which various categories of understanding exist. ‘ Sherman, 1988, p.145 Meta-cognitivePr agmatic AffectiveSelf awareResponsibilityfor learningExperiential/ContextualYes;Maybe; No;Don’t Know 1 Maybe 2 Yes 3 Don’t Know 4 Don’t Know 5 ( ) No Response

Interpreting Data or cautious intimations... Tentative response patterns 1.meta-cognitive; self aware; experiential/contextual 2.pragmatic; self aware; responsible for learning 3. Yes, there is a link; refer to AfL in classroom practice

Answering or reframing the question Why might ITE courses pursue student teachers’ dual engagement, as adult learners and student teachers, with Assessment for Learning? What might ITE courses consider when pursuing student teachers’ dual engagement, as adult learners and student teachers, with Assessment for Learning?

Linking learning: student learners and AfL Higher Education Initial Teacher Education Primary School

What next? Apply phenomenographical approach and incorporate other approaches where it seems appropriate Listen to student teacher narratives about AfL; their own learning and their application of AfL in the classroom Be cautious about ‘seeing’ emerging patterns – be open to dissonance Engage students in dialogue about scaffolding meta- learning

References Alexander, R. (2009 (ed.) Children, their world, their education. Final Report and Recommendations of the Cambridge Primary Review. Oxon: Routledge. Assessment Reform Group (2002) Assessment for Learning: 10 Principles. London: Assessment Reform Group. Black, P., Harrison, C., Lee, C. Marshall, B. & Wiliam, D. (2003) Assessment for learning: putting it into practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Boud, D. (1988) ‘Moving towards Autonomy’ in Boud, D. (ed.) (2 nd ed) Developing Student Autonomy in Learning. London: Kogan Page. pp Department for Children, Schools and Families (2008) The Assessment for Learning Strategy. Nottingham: DCSF Publications. Entwistle, N. (1996) Recent research on student learning and the learning environment. In Tait, J. and Knight, P. The Management of Independent Learning. London: SEDA. Hockings, Christine (2009) 'Reaching the students that student-centred learning cannot reach', British Educational Research Journal, 35 (1), pp Loughran, J. (2006) Developing a Pedagogy of Teacher Education. Oxon: Routledge. Read, A. and Hurford, D. (2008) ‘Opportunities for personalised learning: enabling or overwhelming?’ Practitioner Research in Higher Education, 2 (1). pp Rust, C., Price, M. & O’Donovan, B. (2003) ‘Improving Students’ Learning by Developing their Understanding of Assessment Criteria and Processes’.Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 28 (2) pp Sadler, D. R. (1998) ‘ Formative Assessment: Revisiting the territory.’ Assessment in Education 5 (1) 77- Sherman, R. R. and Rodman, W.B. (ed) (1988) Qualitative research in education; focus and methods. London: Falmer Press Slater, A., Shaw, S., Read, A. and Hurford, D. (2009) ‘Tell me what to do?’. In: Jackson, Alison, (ed.) Innovations and Development in Initial Teacher Education : A selection of conference papers presented at The 4th ESCalate ITE conference, University of Cumbria, Carlisle campus 16th May ESCalate, pp ‘Tell me what to do?’. Tobell, J., O’Donnell, V., Zammit, M. (2010) ‘Exploring transition to postgraduate study: shifting identities in interaction with communities, practice and participation.’ British Educational Research Journal 36 (2), pp Ward, H. (2008) ‘Assessment for Learning has fallen prey to gimmicks, says critic’, Times Educational Supplement, 17 October [Online]. Available at: (Accessed 14 May 2011).