home

**The aim of this PLC is to evaluate and develop the effective use of Assessment for Learning Strategies. This wiki is a collaborative webspace to share files, ideas and record the progress of the PLC.** =__Meeting 28th September 2010__=
 * Welcome to the working wiki for the Abercanaid and Bedlinog Professional Learning Community**  media type="custom" key="8716160"

Agreed Focus - Effectiveness Assesment for Learning Strategies throughout the school.

__Action plan.__ 1.Research relevant AFL strategies to use in 3 key ages groups. (Nursery/Reception, KS1,KS2). - Share current practice in our schools - Visit other schools to observe good practice - Research strategies from internet.

2.Decide on 2 strategies to trial in own classes and feed back to PLC. In each age group in own class. - Discuss with children how they tell teachers when they have found something difficult / easy - Discuss with children how they "assess" or feel about their work / effort? - Introduce strategies - and trial them across curriculum as appropriate. - Consider use of AFL for homework - to include parents

3. Evaluation of strategies in both schools - Visit partner classes from partner schools to observe strategies in practise. - Questionnaire for children to ascertain how they feel about the strategies. What have been the pros and cons. - Return findings to PLC decide on further strategies to trial as necessary.

4. Desired outcomes - Develop joint policy on AFL for Abercanaid and Bedlinog Schools - Disseminate strategies and findings colleagues - AFL policy throughout the school

5. Review - Monitor how strategies are being used - Review of process June 2011

**__23rd November 2010__** "Why develop thinking skills and ICT in the classroom"
 * Looked at DCELLS doumentation "How to develop thinking and learning, and AFL in the classroom
 * Shared ideas, and fed back on how the stratedies were implemented.
 * Discussed a way forward.
 * Shared resources, through files and ideas through photo/video.

=**__21 st January 2010__**= Discussed outcomes and ctions of last meeting

__Nursery / Reception__
 * Staff felt that whilst the "I can" displays worked, targets need to be chosen carefully to ensure relevance of children's activities and manageability for staff.
 * It was suggested that staff looked at baseline objectives to inform the choice of activities to add further "weight" and purpose to the use of these afl strategies at this young age. "I can count to 10," "I know my colours," I can build a tower."
 * It was reiterated that the use of AFL at this age and stage is laying the foundation of metacognition. Staff are teaching children to think about their own learning, enjoyment, success and participation in activities.
 * Staff felt that Thumbs up activity was good for showing enjoyment. However it was noted that children often succumbed to peer pressure, rather than expressing own opinions. It was felt that using this strategy to convey the concept of easy and difficult did not bear much relevance to how the children performed in a given activity... it was always "easy." That said, staff felt that there was still value in familiarising the children with this process as it is being used throughout the KS1 and 2
 * PLC members had discussed these strategies with class teachers and other support staff to collect a wider view.

__KS1__
 * 2 stars and a Wish is becoming embedded in practise for peer assessment. Children are growing in confidence at recognising good practise in other people's work, and identifying areas for improvement.
 * This skill has been extended to self assessment. It has been recognised that children find this a more difficult skill to grasp. Teachers are aware of need for sensitivity when looking for a "wish" so that children still feel empowered and positive about reflecting on their best efforts.
 * Traffic lights were introduced. One school found it particularly beneficial. Children were able to acknowledge that they were all capable of meeting an objective with varying degrees of support. It was noted that we need to choose our definition of "red, amber and green" to link directly with success criteria, to enable children to respond more accurately. ie. completion is not necessarily success.

__KS2__
 * 2 stars and a wish is embedded in practise children are beginning to be more specific in tailoring their comments to refer to success criteria for a specific task. When this process was introduced children were focussing on presentation rather than content or goals in their feedback. This skill is primarily used orally. A written format has been introduced through marking. and children have written responses to their own work and others when appropriate. It was noted that written responses can be onerous and time consuming. It was felt that verbal feed has a more immediate and greater impact.
 * A solution to the above has been "traffic lights" at the bottom of a piece of work for self assessment. Teachers have found this instantly informs their marking. Children have discrete access to inform the teacher whether they have found something difficult or if they need extra support. This has been of great value particularly with "middle" ability children. This information helps to inform targeting of "basic skills" children.
 * Children identified their own targets for x tables through "I Can" sheet. This sheet was invaluable to progress learning of tables. Children who were regularly getting full marks in weekly tests - showed that whilst they were able to "learn" the tables for a test, they were not secure in retaining these facts for application. We are looking at how this can be further implemented in maths - possibly at the end of a topic / half term to revisit strategies that have been covered.. This strategy has also been initiated with ICT skills ladders.

__Way forward -__
 * Develop a series of questions to guide a listening to learners process - and implement.
 * Develop a draft AFL policy to be shared at the next meeting.
 * Collect photo and scanned evidence of AFL in practice.
 * Create powerpoint to share findings with other staff at both schools.
 * Fill in facilitators report (CH, MC)
 * Upload Facilitators report and Powerpoint to link to learn website.