Welcome,

This professional development website has been designed as a valuable resource to coach new teachers at North Hampton State High School on marking, moderating and using assessment data.

 

As you all should be aware, there have been significant developments following the Australian Council for Educational Research 2014 Review on Redesigning the secondary - tertiary interface, Queensland Review of Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance - ACER (2014) Review.  In a media statement released by The Minister for Education The Honourable Kate Jones (2015), on 25th August 2015 an explicit reference to the changes to the moderation process and the strength of the current system stating “We are at a point where change is necessary to ensure greater rigour and simplicity in both the senior assessment and tertiary entrance systems in Queensland."  The QCAA (2015) has also reinforced that the changes are necessary by stating that "ensuring the existing system on moderations remains robust by strengthening the current school based assessment processes". It is important to note that these changes have already begun to be implemented with many schools currently undertaking trials.

 

The changes that are now taking place are forward looking and will strengthen the current system in place by the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority (QCAA) and will impact both the quality assuring of assessment instruments and moderation.  Currently QCAA panels review assessment instruments after implementation. The new way forward will require assessment instruments and the marking schemes to be endorsed prior to implementation. The QCAA will be taking into consideration the 5 principles of quality assessment whereas the previous system only considered two.  With these changes it is important that new teachers are coached on how to effectively evaluate assessment instruments.  Utilising the QCAA Senior assessment instrument evaluation form, this website will demonstrate how to review an instrument to ensure that students are provided with every opportunity to enable successful completion of the assessment instrument.  

 

This website will also focus on how to improve professional practice with respect to using assessment data to inform aspects of teaching practices. It was highlighted at a Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) meeting of schooling authorities (Education Queensland, QCEC and ISQ), Principals, Deans of Education and QCT board members that “graduates’ use of assessment data represented one of three standards in which Principals found graduates to be least prepared” (QCT, 2013, p. 1). The Principal at North Hampton State High School is taking a proactive approach and has instructed this website to be designed to ensure new teachers are able to demonstrate the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Standards(AITSL, 2011).  In particular this website will look at:

 

Standard number 5:  Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning in particular:

5.1 - Assess student learning

5.3 - Make consistent and comparable judgements

5.4 - Interpret student data 

5.5 - Report on student achievement.

 

Therefore, to refine your teaching practices please ensure you engage with the information on this website, beginning with an evaluation of one school-developed assesssment instrument using the QCAA Senior assessment instrument evaluation form.