sharing assessment information with parents using report card templates (id 371) dr. sarah...
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Sharing Assessment Information with Parents Using Report Card Templates (ID 371)
Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick
EECERA 2007
Sharing assessment information with parents using Report Card Templates
School-based developmental initiative
Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick and NCCA colleagues
30 August 2007
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Who is the NCCA?
NCCA statutory remit (1998)
– advise the Minister …curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools
Consultation and partnership
– education partners
– early childhood sector
Context Design Significance
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What are the different early years settings?
Context Design Significance
Setting Provider Age of child
Child minding Regulated/unregulated (voluntary service)
birth to school age
Centre-based child care
Nursery, creche (private/community service)
2-3 months to school age
Playgroups and pre-schools
Sessional services, e.g., Montessori, Naíonraí(private service)
3-5 years
Primary schools Infant classes(public/state service)
4-6 years
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What are the issues?
Towards a Framework for Early Learning: Consultation Report (2005)
Primary Curriculum Review (2005)
– Information on assessment
– Support for assessment practice
– Advice on reporting
– Suggestions for partnership with parents
Context Design Significance
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How is the NCCA responding?
Activity Date
Literature review: international reporting policy/practice 2006
Development of draft Report Card Templates RCTs 2007
School based developmental initiative on the RCTs 2007
Commissioned research on reporting in primary schools 2007
Commissioned paper on assessment in the early years 2007
Guidelines on Assessment - Primary School Curriculum 2007
Guidelines on Assessment - Framework for Early Learning 2008
Context Design Significance
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What are the RCTs?
Report Card Templates…
Infants, first to sixth Mid-year, end-of year Common sections
– Child as a learner: curriculum subjects/areas
– Child’s approach to learning, social/personal development
– Next steps in child’s learning and advice for parents
Range of reporting formats– Rating scales, blank boxes, etc.
Input from children, parents and teachers
Context Design Significance
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What are the mid-year RCTs?
Less detail than end-of-year RCTs Emphasis on supporting progress Key focus on role of parents
For Infant classes… Overview of learning (progress, special achievements)
– Curriculum
– Social and personal development Areas of learning to focus on Ways you can help your child learn
Context Design Significance
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What is the SBDI?
School-based developmental initiative To gather information on
– Accessibility
– Usability
– Feasibility of RCTs Participants
– 6 schools (mid-term RCTs)
– 27 schools (end-of-term RCTs)
Context Design Significance
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One school’s experience…
Link to Video
Context Design Significance
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What did we learn (mid-year RCTs)?
Accessibility
– Conciseness / language / graphics Usability
– Teachers and parents liked content headings
– Information for parents / later reference Manageability
– Time / record-keeping
Context Design Significance
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What did we learn from teachers?
Successes:
Valuable contribution to reporting practice
Structure and focus for parent / teacher meetings
Professional development opportunity for staff
Context Design Significance
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What did we learn from teachers?
Challenges:
Shared language for reporting
Objectivity
Meaning of grades, scales, comments
Honesty/sensitivity
Accountability
Context Design Significance
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What did we learn from infant RCTs?
Context Design Significance
Qualitiative, descriptive reporting for younger children
Involvement of children in evaluating their own progress– This is me learning…– I am good at…– I would like to do better in…
Parents as participants, rather than partners
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What are our next steps?
Revise the RCTs
– size/readability
– additional space for reporting
– where/how to record child’s personal details
– clarity of headings Report on the SBDI Advise the Minister for Education and Science Begin project on supporting transfer of children
Context Design Significance
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What are our next steps?
Develop ACTION Assessment, Curriculum and Teaching Innovation on the Net
– Showing rather than telling
– Complement guidelines
– Teaching scenarios, resources and solutions
– Range of media - text, video, photos
Context Design Significance
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Míle buíochas… A thousand thanks!
Sarah FitzPatrickDeputy CEONational Council for Curriculum and AssessmentRepublic of Ireland