New book puts learners at centre of teaching Monday, November 23, 2009 - 11:50

Formative assessment in adult literacy, language and numeracy focuses on the basic principles of applying a learner-centred teaching approach and provides practical ideas for tutors of adult literacy, language and numeracy in their day to day work of lesson preparation, teaching and assessment.

Jay Derrick, one of the book's authors, said:

"Recent research shows that formative assessment approaches make a positive difference to learners, particularly for those who are lacking in confidence or who have had previously unsuccessful experiences of education."

Practitioners involved in the research on which the book draws, spoke of how applying these principles had ‘transformed their teaching'. Improving formative assessment is not about tests. It's about developing the dialogue between teachers and learners and between learners themselves, to understand how and why learners are progressing and where they may still have gaps in their knowledge or skills. Dialogue in the form of questioning skills, marking and feedback, and self/peer assessment is central to this approach.

The authors said:

"The goal of this book is to help teachers apply these approaches, put student autonomy at the heart of the learning process, and to improve the learning experience and achievements of adult learners."