The following slide deck was presented at the Annual Visible Learning Conference in Washington D.C. July 2016. The slide deck provides specific strategies teachers and leaders can utilize to develop assessment capable learners.

1. VoiceandChoice
Developing Assessment Capable Learners
Jen Mall (@malljen) and Michael McDowell
(@mmcdowell13)

2. Today’sLearningIntentionis...
To understand the key aspects of developing
assessment capable learners in your classroom
and across all classrooms.

3. SuccessCriteria
By the end of the session you will...
1.Define “voice” and “choice” in the classroom (from a
learning perspective)
2.Relate the attributes of an assessment capable learner
3.Define and relate actions that promote “voice” and
“choice”
4.Transfer classroom actions to a department, school, or
district

4. 3Parts
1. Defining Terms
2. Specific example(s) in the classroom
3. Scaling and Supporting

5. DefiningTerms

6. Voice
Having the knowledge and skills to
talk about your own learning.

7. Choice
Making decisions about next steps in
learning

8. DefineAssessment
CapableLearners

9. AssessmentCapable
Learners
Understanding how people (I,
we, they) learn and how to
increase learning

10. WhereamIgoinginmylearning?WhereamInow?
What’snext?,HowdoIimprovemylearningand
thatofothers?
Questions these learners have.

11. Buildingagrowth
Mindset
Understanding what makes a
strong learner and using
that information in learning
situations

14. Creatinga
Communityof
Learners
Understanding that peer to
peer interactions are
extremely powerful and using
that knowledge to enhance
learning

16. OK,SoHowinthe
classroom…?

17. SpecificExamplesin
Classroom

18. 1. Transparency of learning intentions and success criteria
2. Student involvement in measuring progress, and
3. Taking collective action in next steps
4. Building the conditions in “voice” and “choice” work in the classroom

20. TransparencyofLearningoutcomesandsuccesscriteria
TEACHER ACTIONS
Create clear learning outcomes with success criteria
When possible, build and revise success criteria with
colleagues
Calibrate student work
Create reasonable but challenging semester goals
awareness of external high stake marking periods

21. Students measuretheirownlearning
STUDENT AND TEACHER ACTIONS
Teacher and students, in partnership, monitor learning.
Feedback loops and dialogue
Students have access to mastery level examples as well as
other student work in progress.

22. Takingcollectiveactioninnextsteps
Students use feedback to drive their own learning
Teachers use feedback to make immediate changes in the
classroom - success criteria drive the classroom. (my
gradebook)
Gradual release: students can begin to create their
learning experiences

24. Aculturethatsupports voiceandchoice
Mutual respect and collaboration
Room for error, struggle and failure
Frequent and timely feedback
Multiple opportunities
Students are a team
Grades are a reflection of learning

25. Lessons
Learned

26. Scalingand
Supporting

32. Score Description
4 Transfer
Applying Understanding
3 Deep
Making Meaning
2 Surface
Building Knowledge
1 Direct Support
Proficiency
Not Yet
Proficiency

37. Questions

38. Be honest with where I am at on
learning progressions. I definitely am
honest with where I am in this class.
This way of assessment has
completely made me feel alright with
being in the pit because I know that I
am not stuck there and that I can get
myself out of it. I really appreciate all
that you have done to make us feel
comfortable with progress.

39. Be open to struggling…Before this class I was not open to
struggling at all, so this took me a while to get used to.
Now I know that I can get myself out of the pit, so I feel
comfortable being in it! I just wish it was this way in the
rest of my classes. ):

40. My annotations and thoughts on written pieces were at
about a 1 level at the beginning of the semester, but with
guidance in class and a lot of practice I have grown to
getting a four on the last annotation. Next semester I
hope to grow further.

41. examplesofassessment capablelearners
Using Data with learners
Providing clarity
Developing a language of
learning