Understanding Assessment

Year Level

Year 12

Duration

100 minutes

Class Size

35 students

Unit Context

Unit: Planning Primary Lessons Effectively Lesson 5 of 9: Understanding Assessment in Lesson Planning

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Learning Area

Other (General Teaching/Professional Learning)

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Queensland Curriculum Alignment

Content Description

• Integrate assessment strategies purposefully into lesson planning to support learning outcomes.
• Develop and use formative assessment to inform teaching and learning.
• Differentiate assessment approaches according to diverse learner needs.
• Use digital tools to enhance assessment practices.

Relevant Standards and Competencies (Queensland Senior Curriculum Framework)

• Design and sequence learning that incorporates assessment strategies aligned to learning intentions.
• Demonstrate understanding and application of formative assessment to guide feedback and support student progression.
• Use inclusive teaching practices and adapt assessments to cater for diverse learners (including learners with dyslexia and other learning differences).
• Foster critical reflection on assessment choices to improve learner engagement and outcomes.

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Lesson Title

Understanding Assessment in Lesson Planning

Lesson Description

WALT (We Are Learning To): Integrate assessment strategies into lesson plans by developing formative assessments linked to learning objectives, while considering diversity and technology.

Success Criteria:

• Identify and explain formative assessment strategies.
• Create an assessment strategy directly linked to a chosen lesson plan.
• Demonstrate adaptations to suit diverse learning needs.
• Explore technology-based tools to enhance assessment.

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Resources Needed

• Sample lesson plans (print or digital)
• Assessment strategy templates
• Markers, whiteboard/interactive board
• Digital devices (laptops/tablets) with access to assessment software/tools
• Dyslexia-friendly diagrams and visual aids explaining formative assessment concepts
• Handouts with examples of assessment strategies
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Activate prior knowledge: Brief discussion asking students: "What is assessment? Why is it important in lesson planning?"
• Present WALT and Success Criteria clearly using visual display.
• Show a dyslexia-friendly diagram summarising types of assessments with a focus on formative assessment.

2. Mini-Lecture & Discussion: Assessment in Lesson Planning (15 minutes)

• Explain the role of assessment within the Queensland curriculum framework, emphasising formative assessment—regular checks for understanding that inform teaching adjustments.

• Highlight differentiation and importance of linking assessment directly to learning objectives.

• Share examples of formative assessment strategies: exit tickets, think-pair-share, questioning, peer/self-assessment, concept maps.

• Discuss how technology tools (e.g., Google Forms, Kahoot, digital quizzes) support formative assessment.

• Use clear diagrams to explain assessment connections and adjustments for diverse learners including students with dyslexia (for example, how oral questioning or visual checklists reduce reading load).

3. Group Activity: Creating Assessment Strategies (30 minutes)

• Students work in small groups (4-5) to choose a sample lesson plan from a provided set.

• Task: Design a formative assessment strategy linked directly to that lesson's learning outcomes.

• Groups should include ideas for differentiation (e.g., scaffolded questions, oral options) and mention at least one technology tool option.

• Teacher circulates to support groups, prompting use of dyslexia-friendly techniques and checking alignment with curriculum goals.

4. Group Presentations and Peer Feedback (20 minutes)

• Each group presents their assessment strategy and explains how it is linked to lesson objectives and inclusive of diverse learners.
• Class offers constructive feedback using prompts: clarity, linkage to learning, inclusivity, use of technology.
• Teacher facilitates reflection on best features and improvement suggestions.

5. Independent Reflection and Extension (15 minutes)

• Individual students write a brief reflective paragraph:

• How assessment strategies impact lesson effectiveness.

• How they can integrate technology into assessment.

• What adaptations they might make for learners with dyslexia or other needs.

• For students ready to extend, offer challenge tasks to explore apps/software that create formative assessments or analyse assessment data to adjust planning.

6. Wrap-Up and Summary (10 minutes)

• Recap WALT and Success Criteria referencing student work and reflections.
• Revisit dyslexia-friendly diagram highlighting key concepts.
• Set homework: Apply the assessment strategy created today to a lesson plan you will develop in the next lesson.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide clear, concise verbal instructions supported by written and visual materials.
• Use dyslexia-friendly font and spacing for all handouts and slides.
• Offer oral response options and collaborative work to reduce individual reading/writing pressure.
• Include visual organisers and diagrams to explain assessment concepts.
• Scaffold tasks with templates and sentence starters.
• Provide examples ranging from simple to complex for diverse learners.

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Extension Activities

• Research and present on advanced formative assessment tools or apps.
• Create a digital formative assessment quiz or poll for peer use.
• Explore how data from assessments can inform long-term curriculum planning and student reporting.

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Assessment for Learning Opportunities

• Continuous formative assessment throughout lesson via teacher questioning and group work observations.
• Peer and self-assessment during presentations.
• Reflective writing to demonstrate individual understanding of assessment integration and adaptations.

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Reflective Notes for Teacher

• Monitor group discussions closely to ensure understanding of assessment links to learning goals.
• Provide extra support for students struggling with connecting concepts by offering additional examples or one-on-one clarifications.
• Adjust pace for comprehension and engagement.

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This comprehensive, interactive lesson plan is designed to engage Year 12 students deeply with the concept of integrating assessment in lesson planning, aligned with Queensland Curriculum priorities on assessment literacy, inclusivity, and digital fluency. The inclusion of dyslexia-friendly options and differentiation supports diverse learners effectively while encouraging creativity and critical thinking through group collaboration and technology exploration.