Assessment – Feedback about Impact
“We should focus on the greatest source of variance that can make the difference – the teacher.” – John Hattie
Typically we are asked to assess students and analyze how well they have done on a particular task. We view the outcome as a measure of how the child is progressing. Our schools are streaming with data, but are we using the information effectively? Of course assessment information is about the child, but it is also a tool to help us as teachers see how we are doing. Who are we reaching and who are we not reaching? What are we doing well and what not so well? How are we impacting our students’ learning?
The research of Dr. John Hattie shows how powerful the mind frames of learning really are. He has found that there are specific mind frames that empower us as educators to maximize our impact on learning.
Mind Frame #4 – Teachers see assessment as feedback about their impact.
Effective teachers are masters at being adaptive and are willing to try and try again to find ways to reach students and maximize their learning. Assessment data does give us valuable information about our students’ progress, but it should also be instrumental in shaping our instruction. Student achievement is not “fixed” and we are the “change agents” that can help students exceed what they view as “their potential.” Success in student learning is shaped by the choices we make in our classrooms. By using formative assessment as feedback about our impact, we can better analyze how and what our students are learning and plan the next steps for greater success.
Hattie recommends that teachers focus on three things: diagnose, intervene, and evaluate. We have to diagnose what our students are doing and analyze how they are learning. We need to see where they are, how they have grown, and where they need to grow. Next we must get involved in multiple ways to better meet their needs and then evaluate our interventions. Focus on the learning rather than the teaching and the evaluation will give us the information we need to guide the process. To maximize learning, we need to show students what success looks like and then use formative assessment outcomes as the tools to help build that success. We are the agents of change that can see and inspire the potential that kids don’t see in themselves. “Know thy impact!”