Professional Learning Cycle
Day 3
Our Inquiry Question:
How can we improve student
learning in Secondary Science by
inquiring into our current
assessment practices?
Agenda
Minds On
Intro/Welcome/Prayer
Setting the Stage: Student Engagement
Action
Descriptive Feedback
PLCycle - Reflecting & Sharing from Day 2
Consolidation
Revisit: Student Engagement
Application: Co-Planning
Reflection: Exit Card
Minds On
Student Engagement
The extent to which students identify
with and value schooling outcomes,
have a sense of belonging at school,
participate in academic and non
academic activities, strive to meet the
formal requirements of schooling, and
make a serious personal investment in
learning.
Willms et al., 2009
Hume, 2011
Minds On
Three Types of Engagement
Social  Heart
Academic/Institutional  School
Intellectual  Mind
(Willms) (Hume)
Minds On
4 Questions to Engagement
1. How do I feel?
2. Am I interested?
3. Is this important?
4. Can I do this?
Marzano & Pickering, 2011
6
Minds On
Let’s Observe: Sheldon & Penny
Minds On
How would
would Penny,
Sheldon,
How
thethe
teacher,respond
respondto:
to:
learner,
How am
am II feeling?
feeling?
•• How
Am II interested?
interested?
•• Am
Is this
this important?
important?
•• Is
Can II do
do this?
this?
•• Can
Action
Descriptive Feedback
What is it?
Provides students with a
description of their learning
Purpose is to reduce the gap
between the student’s current level
of knowledge and skills and the
learning goals, and
Enables the learner to adjust what
he or she is doing in order to
improve
•
•
•
Action
Effective Descriptive Feedback
What are its characteristics?
Groups of 4 
•
•
•
•
Read through the list of quotes in your
handout package
Based on these quotes, what do you think
are the characteristics of effective
feedback?
Record your ideas on chart paper, and
Be prepared to share with the whole group
Action
Video
Action
Effective Descriptive Feedback
Summary
Descriptive feedback is the most powerful
tool for improving student learning – if
it’s done well
It can be positive or negative depending
on
•Type
•Delivery
•Timing
•Structure
•Focus
•Amount
Action
Effective Descriptive Feedback
Summary cont.
Structure: what was done well, what
needs improvement, how to improve
(orally, written, in question format)
Focus: linked to learning goals and
success criteria (task-oriented not
behaviour-oriented)
Amount: prioritize feedback, address most
important needs first, limit 2-3
Action
Effective Descriptive Feedback
Summary cont.
Helps students to learn by
• Providing information about current
achievement (where am I now?),
• With respect to a goal
(where am I going?), and
• Identifying appropriate next steps
(how can I close the gaps?)
Action
Effective Descriptive Feedback
Summary cont.
Feedback needs to come while students
are still learning
Evaluative feedback can have a negative
impact on learning and motivation
Action
Effective Descriptive Feedback
General Progression:
teacher provides feedback to student

student is given time to act on the
feedback

teacher follows up with student to
check that feedback is being used
properly
Action
Let’s Revisit Sheldon & Penny
Action
How would
would Penny,
Sheldon,
How
thethe
teacher,respond
respondto:
to:
learner,
How am
am II feeling?
feeling?
•• How
Am II interested?
interested?
•• Am
Is this
this important?
important?
•• Is
Can II do
do this?
this?
•• Can
Action
PLCycle – Sharing
Action
Co-constructing Success Criteria
Consolidation
Sheldon & Penny – The Finale
Consolidation
How would
would Penny,
Sheldon,
How
thethe
teacher,respond
respondto:
to:
learner,
How am
am II feeling?
feeling?
•• How
Am II interested?
interested?
•• Am
Is this
this important?
important?
•• Is
Can II do
do this?
this?
•• Can
Consolidation
Co-Planning
Consolidation
Co-Planning
• Select a lesson for the next unit in
your course
• Determine the learning goals and
success criteria
• What assessment tools can you use
•
•
(e.g. checklist, rubric, exit card, …)
 consider using Cooper’s and
Keeley’s books for ideas
Determine opportunities for
feedback (when, type, …)
Post on the wiki
Consolidation
Exit Card