This module discusses assessment and its relationship to learning. It covers the assessment cycle of conceptualizing what to assess, eliciting evidence, judging performance, and validating inferences. Formative assessment and developing a learning culture are emphasized. Assessment should focus on understanding, interactions, texts and attitudes. It should elicit prior knowledge, provide effective feedback, teach for transfer of knowledge, and help students self-assess. Developing a learning culture involves jointly focusing on learning, using assessment as useful information rather than rewards, and engaging in dialogue around work and criteria.

2. © Commonwealth of Australia 2007 Stream B: Module 8 Assessing Language learning