Paul Cahill

Head of Secondary Curriculum

Launch of Sydney Catholic Schools Authentic Assessment Statement

The Context of Assessment Reform

• Sydney Catholic Schools Strategic Plan New Horizons
• Sydney Catholic Schools Statement on Authentic Learning
• Development of an enterprise school and student management system
• BOSTES Requirement for Assessment As, For and Of in the NSW Syllabuses for the Australian Curriculum
• Developments in assessment, reporting and measurement

Basic questions about assessment...

• Why we assess?

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• What we assess?

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• How we assess?

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• How do we interpret the outcomes of what we assess?

Research and Assessment Reform...

• Assessment needs to be integrated into the learning and not apart from it.
• Improved understanding of learning and neuroscience challenge traditional assessment
• Cultures of learning rather than cultures of performance improve achievement
• Measure what matters not the easiest by default
• Assessment should be based on clear standards and a common language

Implications of Assessment Reform...

• Differentiated learning

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• Understanding of standards along the learning continuum

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• Nuanced understanding of achievement

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• Engagement with parents and students

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• Report and measure what matters

Changing Assessment

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“The paradigm shift now required in assessment is from judging how much a body of content students have successfully learnt to establishing where students are in their long-term learning and what progress they are making over time.”

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Masters, G., (2013) Reforming Educational Assessment:

Imperatives, principles and challenges

ACER

Mapping the Assessment Journey

• Developing a K - 12 Assessment Statement.

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• Leading the implementation of the Statement in 2016 and beyond.

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• Guiding its enactment across Sydney Catholic Schools.

The Purpose of Assessment

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“The purpose of assessment is to establish and understand where learners are in their learning at a point in time, informing ongoing learning opportunities and teaching decisions which ensure learning growth for every student.”

SCS Authentic Assessment Statement

Assessment has meaning and purpose for...

… Students

… Teachers

… School Leaders

… System Leaders

… Parents

Principles that underpin Authentic Assessment

… Focus on knowing the learner

… Empower the learner

… Be integral to the teaching and learning cycle

… Be relevant, purposeful and engaging

… Be valid and reliable

… Be flexible, fair and accessible, enabling all � students opportunity to demonstrate their � learning

… Incorporate timely, effective and appropriate� feedback

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A statement is only a start...

• It must be enacted in schools and classrooms
• It requires significant cultural shifts
• It needs to be fully engaged with by system leaders, school leaders, teachers, students and parents
• It will need the full commitment and drive of all members of Sydney Catholic Schools

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Let’s begin the Authentic Assessment journey - one that will be exciting and full of promise.

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