Professional Reading - NZCER - Using standardised assessments

New ways to use assessment information

• What does it mean to use data diagnostically and evaluatively?
• Diagnostic - Determine students strengths and needs
• Evaluative - What is their progress in relation to others? How successful have teaching progress and practices been?
• The tests have been designed to show progression of learning in a specific subject
• These tests are only one form of evidence and sit alongside other forms of data to assess learning needs
• PD should be offered to all new staff on how to dissect and best use the data from PAT assessments
• These questions should inform the decisions you make in assessment practice - What is working well and why? What is not and why?
• An understanding of how the tests were designed can help to use them more effectively
• Scales can be used to measure progress between terms, over several years and even just between tests e.g. pre and post intervention programme
• Aligned to NZ Curriculum levels - Once a child achieves a scale score you can find what curriculum level they are working at
• Do we as teachers have the opportunity to decide who sits what test when? Our school is set a certain test to deliver to students but what if they are not currently working anywhere near this level? Will this still accurately show progress? Do we need to work on personalising our tests?
• Scale descriptors allow you to determine accurate next steps from these assessments

Appraisal Document 2016

Mentor Meeting Minutes - Term 3 2016

Staff Meeting - Staff Personal Review BNMS 2016 - Thursday 13th October 2016

This afternoon we had the opportunity to share information about our experience and our preferences regarding working at Berkley. Our responses will inform the school review and decision making around our school structures in 2017. As we work towards 'one experience for all', we are seeking to function in a way that avoids the pitfalls of a 'personality-driven curriculum'.

The schools key goals for 2017 will be to strengthen the alignment between school wide practices and the documented school curriculum (Point of Balance).

I found this survey quite challenging to fill out as I have only been at Berkley for a year. I think that it is great that all staff have the opportunity to have their say.