Despite good intentions for formative assessment to enhance the quality of students' learning and motivation, it is widely misunderstood. Throughout the education system, it has become little more than a way of coaching students to meet the demands of summative assessment. This unique book combines theory, research and practical insights to demonstrate how teachers might enhance their understanding of formative assessment, particularly in vocational and adult education settings that are under pressure to meet targets for inclusion, retention and achievement. Drawing on recent research, the book includes six case studies that draw out the implications of the research findings to suggest ways in which teachers might change their assessment practice, despite the pressures in their own contexts. It considers: What is formative assessment, and what is it not? What impact do political and social factors have on assessment practices? Why do similar assessment practices have different effects in different 'learning cultures'? What role does subject knowledge play in educationally-worthwhile formative assessment? How can teachers, lecturers and other education professionals improve formative assessment? This book is essential reading for teachers, trainee teachers, staff development officers, researchers and those running training courses throughout the lifelong learning sector. It is ideal for those studying for PTLLS, CTLLS and DTLLS qualifications and for Cert Ed and PGCE awards related to the Lifelong Learning Sector. It is also relevant to various stakeholders involved in the design of qualifications, including awarding bodies, and to researchers interested in assessment and the impact of education policy on practice in all sectors of the education system, and particularly in lifelong learning. The book is authored with Jennie Davies, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Exeter, UK; Jay Derrick, Adult Education Consultant/Visiting Lecturer, Institute of Education, London, UK; and Judith Gawn, Regional Programme Director (LLN), NIACE London, UK.

The idea that formative assessment or 'assessment for learning' can transform teaching and learning has become a mantra, and optimism in the 1980s and 1990s that outcome-based and competence-based assessment would widen methods and 'evidence' for showing achievement and motivate learners alienated from traditional approaches are now embedded in assessment systems, the inspection and professional development that supports them, and in teachers' own espoused theories of learning, teaching and assessment.

This second edition gives you more than 60 tools--with tips and implementation steps--for creating and using formative assessments in every grade level and subject. --from publisher description

Assessment is a critical aspect of higher education because it has a range of powerful impacts on what staff and students do and how universities operate. Underpinned by relevant theory and practical advice this fully updated new edition takes into account the changing expectation of students in the context of an increasingly complex and shifting higher education environment to promote the role of formative assessment and formative feedback and its impact on shaping the student learning experience. Presented through the lens of contemporary perspectives, empirical evidence, and case studies across a broad range of subject disciplines, this new edition aims to encourage teaching and support staff to focus on the promotion of student learning through designing and embedding high-impact formative assessment processes and activities. Key content covers: the theoretical and philosophical aspects of formative assessment and formative feedback; the learning environment in which students undertake their learning activities, helping teachers develop appropriate formative assessment and provide effective formative feedback; the impact of formative assessment and formative feedback activities have on learning, teaching, and assessment design, as well as on the academic workload of tutors; the contemporary issues and challenges currently driving research into formative assessment; the use of technology in formative assessment and how different tools and technologies allow for the provision of effective and efficient formative feedback; the benefits of understanding how students respond to formative assessment and formative feedback as an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the teaching and learning methods and techniques; the integral role of formative assessment and formative feedback plays in postgraduate research settings; and how innovations in formative assessment and feedback inform key developments in large-scale assessment change. Aimed at both experienced and early career practitioners in higher education, this text is ideal reading for educators who wish to see a movement away from a higher education system driven by summative assessment to one where a more holistic approach to education positions learning standards rather than measurement and grades as central to effective assessment and, crucially, to return to a focus on student learners.

An essential book linked to the LLUK Standards for teachers, trainers & tutors: a practical introduction to teaching & learning.

The A to Z of Lifelong Learning has been written for anyone involved in the lifelong learning sector, whether as an evening class tutor, trainee FE teacher or college manager. With its glossary format, this book allows students, tutors and practitioners to easily explore the many key themes, issues and debates that shape contemporary practice in the lifelong learning sector. Written in an accessible style the A to Z of Lifelong Learning combines ease of use with a critical perspective, covering a range of important topics relating to learning and teaching in lifelong learning, the people (staff, students and other stakeholders) and the organisation and management of the sector. Each entry provides a succinct and helpful overview for busy students and practitioners, and includes: Introduction: A brief definition of the term, including changes in emphasis/usage over time. Key concepts: An exploration of key concepts and debates within the topic, referenced to both recent literature and seminal works/writers. Practical application: Commentary relating to the application/manifestation of the concept in practice, drawing on real world examples where appropriate. Readable, critical and fully referenced to provide guidelines for further reading and research, the book is aimed at students who are taking a wide variety of lifelong learning qualifications. "This book is an excellent entry point for anyone who wants to know more about lifelong learning and the lifelong learning sector. Each entry provides a clear definition and an introduction to the topic with an overview of the key elements. This is followed by a concise critical review highlighting the key theorists and writers. Each section concludes with a comprehensive guide to further reading. Jonathan Tummons and Ewan Ingleby combine scholarship and experience of the sector with the outcomes of their own research to create a valuable addition to the literature on lifelong learning. If you are unfamiliar with the territory of lifelong learning, this book gives you the map." Pete Scales, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Derby, UK "In their introduction, Tummons and Ingleby describe the breadth and complexity of the lifelong learning sector with its wide range of educational institutions, programmes of study, contexts and settings and diverse student and teacher populations. That it manages so comprehensively to encompass this sector, from 'Accreditation of Prior Learning' to 'Zone of Proximal Development', is one of the key achievements of this text. Each entry is economically written but any necessary brevity does not prevent the writers from dealing with topics in a critical and scholarly fashion and entries are usefully accompanied by references and further reading. The indices of most textbooks concerned with the sector will usually indicate where, through the text, individual topics are dealt with. A strong feature of A-Z of Lifelong Learning is that readers can go directly to topics which interest them for a clear, comprehensive treatment of them. This text will be invaluable to all those teaching or studying in the sector and will be particularly useful for those outside the sector baffled by the myriad topics, theories, policies, processes which are current within it - indeed, there is even an entry on 'Jargon'!" Andrew Armitage, Head of the Department of Post-Compulsory Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK "This is a welcome and timely text. Lifelong learning is characterised by continual revision and radical diversity. This simple A-Z of the sector provides a much needed overview of that complexity. For the novice unfamiliar with the pedagogies, philosophies and policies that define working with adults, this A-Z of Lifelong Learning is an accessible introduction. The seasoned professional familiar with a particular institutional setting will appreciate gaining depth and insight into the workings of an entirely different educational context. Those working in a further education college may know little and understand less about the distinctiveness of the Workers' Educational Association. Each alphabetically listed entry is sharply focussed and accessibly written. The writers somehow manage to stay true to the criticality and contention desired by those seeking depth. They do more than provide factual information; the reader is gently guided through the broad arguments surrounding that particular entry - audit, Ofsted and part-time tutors are three good examples of how contestation is introduced: there is enough here to appreciate the significance of the concept but too little to completely satisfy. The reader is left curious and inspired, wanting to follow up and find out more. Yet, each entry provides just enough detail to stimulate thought and discussion." Carol Azumah Dennis, PCET Programme Director, University of Hull, UK

This book demonstrates how blended learning improves access to and enhances the quality of higher education teaching and learning in Asian universities. It first discusses how leading universities in the region drive and support blended learning at the institutional level to enhance student learning engagement and outcomes. It then examines 10 effective implementations and lessons learned of blended learning practices across different disciplinary courses and programmes (humanities and language, science and engineering, social science and education, and others) in the region. The chapters in this book provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges of blended learning for improved access and enhanced quality of higher education, and offer insights into the promising blended learning policies and practices in Asian universities.

Teachers assist students in order to gain data and to determine whether the instructional objectives have been met. Usually, the assessment process takes place as part of ongoing learning and teaching, periodically and at key transitions. The term "assessment" refers to the wide variety of methods, procedures, and tools used to determine what students know, learn, and how they apply knowledge in concrete situations. Assessment, Testing, and Measurement Strategies in Global Higher Education is a comprehensive synthesis of correlations between assessment, testing, and measurement in the context of global education. It analyzes the impact of educational technology on learning analytics, challenges of rapidly changing learning environments, and computer-based assessment. Featuring an assortment of topics such as educational technologies, risk management, and metacognition, this book is optimal for academicians, higher education faculty, deans, performance evaluators, practitioners, curriculum designers, researchers, administrators, and students.

Assessment and Learning places learning at the centre of our concerns and explicitly underscores the importance of assessment in that learning. This new edition provides a comprehensive overview of assessment that is used to support learning, practice-based theory on assessment for learning, and formative assessment to support individual development and motivate learners. With a strong list of existing and new contributors, this second edition has been updated to include the latest work on assessment. Readers will find research-informed insights from a wide variety of international contexts. It features: - New chapters on e-assessment, the learner′s perspective on assessment and learning and the influence of assessment on how we value learning - Teacher-friendly assessment topics - Practical examples and chapter summaries throughout This book is useful to teacher educators and researchers on postgraduate courses in education, teaching, learning and assessment. John Gardner is a professor of education at Queens University Belfast, and President of the British Educational Research Association.

Curriculum Leadership by Middle Leaders focusses on major issues relating to the continuing national and international discourse on curriculum leadership, and highlights the vital role of middle leaders in schools. School leadership has focused primarily on first-order change involving school leaders or principals. This book seeks to put the spotlight on second-order change that involves curriculum leadership and professional development support on the part of middle leaders for more sustainable and long-term change in teaching and learning that will influence what happens in classrooms. With timely and thought-provoking contribution from authors who pursue a range of scholarly interests in multiple educational settings, the book is guided by several underlying questions: How might we re-envision curriculum leadership so that it addresses both local and global concerns and aspirations? How might we better grasp how middle leaders understand and respond to the pressures of educational reform initiatives? How might middle leaders transform pressures into possibilities? This book will appeal to current teachers, those currently undertaking teacher training and students or academics carrying out research in the field of educational leadership.