Conceptual Understandings

Who is this workshop for?

Teachers in candidate and authorized schools.

This workshop is for administrators, coordinators and teachers who

• Have been working with the programme for at least one school year
• Have previously attended a category 1 PYP workshop (regional or in-school) facilitated by IB PYP workshop leaders organized by or through the regional office

Purpose of the Workshop:

This workshop offers opportunities to explore the latest developments in assessment processes and their applications. Identifying what students know, understand, can do and feel at different stages in the inquiry process requires careful gathering and analysis of information about student performance. Participants will explore the purpose of assessment, a range of assessment practices, record keeping and communication, and school-wide policy development. In addition to being highly relevant to classroom practices, participants have the opportunity to explore thinking in a supportive environment where facilitators and fellow participants mentor and coach each other in the true sense of collegial support and learning.

Conceptual Understandings:

Personal beliefs and experience influence how assessment is viewed and used. They also influence the expectations of teachers, students and parents.
Assessment is integral to all planning, teaching and learning.
Assessment addresses all of the essential elements.
The school provides evidence of student learning over time across the curriculum.
Effective assessment of prior knowledge and understanding informs teaching and learning.
Formative and summative assessment supports student learning and provides evidence of the efficacy of planning and teaching.
Establishing essential assessment agreements on assessment, evaluation and reporting increases consistency of practices.
Self and peer assessments enables students to reflect on their learning and allows them to become self-directed learners.
Assessment tools and strategies should be varied and balanced.
Reporting involves students, teachers and parents as partners and reflects the PYP.
Critical consideration of assessment data is a means of evaluation of the teaching and learning and consequently the effectiveness of the programme.
Understanding of assessment may be enhanced through other IB professional development.