1. Some issues about assessment
Assessment has:
the power to systematically discriminate between students (and teachers?)
the potential to reinforce negative attitudes
the possibility of being culturally biased
the potential to hide true knowledge and meaning
the potential to be used for political purposes
Can assessment ever be reliable and valid?
Can assessment ever be authentic?

2. Some assessment principles
WYTIWYG (What You Test Is What You Get)
WYTIATL (What You Test Is All They Learn)
Assess what students know, not what they don’t know
You can’t assess everything
Keep it simple

3. Inform teaching and learning
AAMT principles
Appropriate
Match purpose
Assess full range of learning goals
Fair and inclusive
Involve students in process
Fair to girls and boys, inclusive of cultural background
Clear and transparent
Fair and inclusive judgments
Planned and opportunistic
Genre familiarity
Inform teaching and learning
Reflect and plan
Purposeful, learner-oriented feedback
Share with parents and colleagues

4. Wiliam’s four principles
Effective questions
Clear criteria
Feedback
Peer and self assessment