1. OSI, Education Support Program, September 2003 Assessment in Education Resource pack Presentation by Natalia Shablya

2. What is the focus of the pack? Assessment of students’achievements

3. An overview of assessment reforms: Where are they?

4. Who might benefit from materials in the pack? Policy makersPolicy makers Education managersEducation managers ResearchersResearchers Education expertsEducation experts

5. How this resource pack can be helpful to you? Learn about current approaches/types in assessment of students’ achievements Learn about ways how assessment reforms are implemented in different countries: difference of approaches, specific challenges and lessons Find recommended books, journals, web-sites to learn more about assessment issues Establish contacts with assessment agencies and experts

6. What is available on the site? Overview papers on regional and international reform practicesOverview papers on regional and international reform practices Q and A paper on sensitive issues of assessmentQ and A paper on sensitive issues of assessment Country examples (Romania, Slovenia, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Poland and Lithuania)Country examples (Romania, Slovenia, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Poland and Lithuania) Short country descriptions on assessment practices and policies (17 countries from our region and 6 western countries)Short country descriptions on assessment practices and policies (17 countries from our region and 6 western countries)

7. What is available on the site? Recommended books, journals and web-site links for in-depth study of various assessment issuesRecommended books, journals and web-site links for in-depth study of various assessment issues Web sites and contact details for international assessment centers and associationsWeb sites and contact details for international assessment centers and associations Description of international studies in assessmentDescription of international studies in assessment List of assessment consultantsList of assessment consultants Glossary of assessment terminologyGlossary of assessment terminology

8. Who developed materials? 4 leading international experts4 leading international experts 30 local experts (researchers, experts, education managers, policy makers, directors of assessment units, etc)30 local experts (researchers, experts, education managers, policy makers, directors of assessment units, etc)

9. European Benchmarks (International Overview Paper) European Benchmarks (International Overview Paper) On 5 May 2003 the Education Council of the European Commission adopted European benchmarks.

10. National imperatives for countries in transitions (Regional overview paper)

11. An Assessment :”Bill of Rights” (International Overview paper) All students are entitled to the following: Ample opportunity in the curriculum and in classroom teaching to monitor, to self-assess, and self-correct their work. Fair opportunity to learn what is required. If standards or assessment instruments make certain assumptions about the resources available to students - maps, books, science equipment, or even time to practice and learn - all students must have a fair chance to prepare on a roughly equal footing.

12. Why should countries with limited budgets for education spend money for assessment reform? (Q and A paper) “Spending on assessment will be fully refunded only if the reform is not self-serving, but generates effects which go beyond the question of assessment.” (Hungarian case) “ It is always easier to prove and persuade the officials about the money needed for examinations, because of the need to produce concrete results quickly. In fact, the relatively successful introduction of examinations in Latvia seven years ago, has promoted the allotment of additional finances for exams.” (Latvian case)

13. Why should countries with limited budgets for education spend money for assessment reform? (Q and A paper) “It’s questionable if countries with limited budget should consider investing in assessment reform as the most important part of educational reform, especially in high stakes examinations. In most cases where foreign loans are involved, there’s a question of sustainability. It’s probably more important to invest in more “soft” forms of assessment and educating teachers in assessment theory and practice, to raise standards of their assessment, and to give policy makers possibility to get data that allow them to take appropriate decisions…” (Slovenian expert)

14. What other information is available in country examples and short country descriptions ? What approaches did countries take in initiating changes in assessment of student’s achievement ? What is happening/happened within the framework of this reform? How did it all started? How was the political interest secured? What are current issues and plans which countries faces in implementing assessment reform? What were the key lessons learned?

15. How can you contribute to this pack? When an interesting article or report is published please send it to usWhen an interesting article or report is published please send it to us Submit your short country summary or country exampleSubmit your short country summary or country example Send us translations of documents from this pack into local languagesSend us translations of documents from this pack into local languages nshablya@osi.huHave a look the site and send your suggestions to Natalia Shablya at nshablya@osi.hu nshablya@osi.hu

16. Our address? To access the resource pack use these Internet addresses: –http://194.149.10.80 http://www.osi.hu/esp/resource –http://194.149.10.80 or http://www.osi.hu/esp/resourcehttp://194.149.10.80 http://www.osi.hu/esp/resourcehttp://194.149.10.80 http://www.osi.hu/esp/resource