1. and assessment for learning
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Why develop thinking
and assessment for learning
in the classroom?
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2. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
The ability to learn and apply new skills effectively
throughout our lives is a fundamental requirement for
today’s generation living in an increasingly technological driven world.
It is imperative that pedagogy is updated to ensure
learners receive the full benefits of the revised NC.
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3. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
It could be argued that until now, the process of
learning as a skill in its own right has generally
been of secondary importance to the learning of
subject knowledge and key facts.
As evidence from scientific research and classroom
practice have been increasingly aligned and
interwoven, a number of barriers have been overcome.
The most notable advances have been in the fields
of developing thinking and assessment for learning.
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4. Developing thinking
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Developing thinking can be defined as developing patterns of thinking that help learners acquire deeper understanding and enable them to explore and make sense of their world. It refers to processes that we in Wales have defined as plan, develop and reflect.
Although we are born with a capability to think there is ample evidence that we can learn to think more effectively.
Developing thinking pedagogy has considerable overlap
with the principles of assessment for learning.
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5. Assessment for learning
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Assessment for learning is the process of finding out where learners are within a learning continuum, where they need to go and how best to get there.
It can be considered to be any assessment for which the first priority in its design and practice is to serve the purpose of promoting learning (formative).
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6. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Why focus on developing thinking and assessment for learning?
There is well-documented and substantial qualitative and quantitative evidence to show that this focus raises learners’ motivation and performance.
Between 2005 and 2008, DCELLS conducted a pilot programme with 9 LEAs and 1 group of special schools. This involved 42 schools and over 100 teachers. An evaluation of the programme and its outcomes supported these findings.
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7. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
What were the outcomes of the pilot programme?
In just 5 terms, teachers reported:
increased learner engagement and motivation with learning
improved learner behaviour
improved quality of work produced by learners (increased achievement and attainment)
improvement in learner self esteem and confidence
improvement in the quality of speaking and listening
happier teachers and learners!
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8. Characteristics of developing thinking and assessment for learning
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Metacognition is at the heart of learning – reflection of what has been learned and how it has been learned
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9. Some essential features of
overlapping pedagogy are:
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
focus more on how to learn
learners are frequently required to verbalise and to articulate their thinking/learning
learners and teachers have a common language of learning
focus on group collaboration and co-operation, with teachers facilitating learning
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10. Some essential features of
overlapping pedagogy are:
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
learners support each others’ efforts to learn and jointly construct their learning
learners take responsibility for their own learning and make informed decisions
learners reflect, monitor and self-evaluate their own progress
learners are encouraged to transfer their learning across contexts and to make connections
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11. Some essential features of
overlapping pedagogy are:
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
the classroom is a safe environment for learners to make mistakes
the classroom is a reflective environment where a community of learning can be established.
Leads to…. more independent, reflective and resilient learners.
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12. Fundamental principles underpinning
developing thinking and assessment
For learning
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Intelligence is modifiable.
Belief that every learner can improve.
Deep understanding is more important than superficial learning.
Learners need explicit strategies for how to learn.
Challenge and interest can lead to motivation.
Participation is valued.
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13. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Collaboration (learning with others) will allow learners to take greater educational risks and take their learning forward.
Metacognition (thinking about thinking) is at the heart of the learning and teaching process.
Learners need feedback to evaluate their progress in learning.
Skills and knowledge must be transferred both within the school and in the wider world.
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14. Developing thinking processes
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
PLAN
DEVELOP
METACOGNITION
REFLECT
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NOT a 3 part lesson!

15. Selected developing thinking principles to try:
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Plan
Develop
Reflect
Thinking principle
Activating prior knowledge, skills and understanding
Thinking about cause and effect and making inferences
Evaluate own learning and thinking
**Determining the process/method/ strategy
Forming opinions and making decisions
**Reviewing the process/method
†Determining success criteria
Thinking logically and seeking patterns
† Reviewing outcomes and success criteria
Considering evidence, information and ideas
Linking and lateral thinking
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** and linked principles †

16. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Assessment for learning processes
Three areas for development
Questioning
Providing feedback to learners
Peer and Self-Assessment
** Metacognition is crucial element in learners
and teachers understanding and using processes
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17. Providing feedback to learners Peer and Self-Assessment
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Selected Assessment for learning principles to try:
Questioning
Providing feedback to learners
Peer and Self-Assessment
Assessment for learning principles
Improving quality of answers
Target Setting/
Next steps
On-going lesson assessment
Peer discussion
Immediacy of feedback
Uses of summative assessment
Active involvement of all learners
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18. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
What does the extension
programme involve?
3 year programme, reviewed annually (started 2009)
DCELLS working in partnership with LAs
across Wales
50 teachers coached in developing thinking
and assessment for learning pedagogy per LEA year
programme continuously monitored and
evaluated by LAs and DCELLS
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19. What support will schools involved
in the programme expect?
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Coaching visits by lead LA advisers to lead teachers
Mentoring school visits by DCELLS officers
Networking through cluster meetings
Virtual support through NGfL forum
Practical classroom support and ideas for strategies
and tools through DCELLS
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20. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
What will lead teachers be
expected to do?
choose and trial 3 principles from developing thinking
and assessment for learning
share and disseminate outcomes in school and
within clusters
monitor and evaluate processes and outcomes
meet with DCELLS through mentoring sessions
meet and work with lead LA adviser through
coaching sessions
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21. What resources are available
to help?
Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
two web-based booklets:
Why develop thinking and assessment for learning
in the classroom?
How to develop thinking and assessment for learning
in the classroom.
Weblink:
curriculumassessment/thinkingand
assessmentforlearning/?lang=en
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22. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
What resources are available
to help?
BBC DVD – ‘Aiming for excellence – developing thinking’
NGfL ‘good practice’ website and forum
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23. Why develop thinking skills and assessment for learning in the classroom?
Where can I view the evaluation
report for the pilot programme?
The full evaluation report is available to
download from WAG website
Weblink:
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