nferNelson extends popular Black Box series on Assessment for Learning5 June 2006 – Leading independent test publisher, nferNelson, has today unveiled two new titles in its established Black Box series on Assessment for Learning (AfL). The series, written by Paul Black, Dylan Wiliam and the King’s College London assessment team, offers practical advice on using and improving AfL in the classroom. The new titles, Mathematics Inside the Black Box and English Inside the Black Box, add a subject-specific dimension and focus on the improvement of English and maths teaching and learning through formative assessment. The assessment team at King’s College describes AfL as “any assessment for which the first priority is to serve the purpose of promoting pupils’ learning. As such, it differs from assessment designed primarily to serve the purposes of accountability, ranking or competence.” Much recent research indicates that effective AfL is a key factor in raising pupils’ standards of achievement. Recognised by the DfES, it is a key idea underpinning the Key Stage 3 strategy work on assessment. The new Black Box titles offer guidance on ways of implementing AfL through self- and peer-assessment. The books advise English and maths teachers on how to interact more effectively with pupils on a day-to-day basis to promote their learning by improving their questioning techniques, asking the right questions and listening carefully to how pupils respond. Specific strategies and examples are discussed, and a final section pulls together key issues in implementing the strategies in a whole school context. Paul Black, Emeritus Professor of Science Education at King’s College London, said: “Assessment for Learning has rightly established itself as one of the most successful educational developments in recent years. Whilst the general principles and practices of AfL can be applied to all areas of teaching, we believe that there are very important differences of detail between implementing AfL in different subjects. The new titles in the Black Box series offer advice to teachers that are more tailored to their particular teaching tasks. We hope that they will be a helpful guide to teachers as they work, individually and with colleagues, to build up their own ideas.” Ian Mooney, Head of nferNelson, said: “The new titles have been eagerly awaited, following the success and popularity of the original books. The King’s College team are acknowledged world leaders in the field of Assessment for Learning, and I’m sure these titles will be warmly welcomed for the quality of the advice and the guidance that they contain. They also represent great value for money and their brevity means that teachers can read and absorb the message in a single sitting.” The new titles follow the publication of Science Inside the Black Box in 2005 and the original titles, Inside the Black Box and Working Inside the Black Box . nferNelson also publishes other AfL resources, including the recent Assessment for Learning: Literacy series, which was developed by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The series is designed to embed assessment for learning into the primary classroom. It is an off-the-shelf package that concentrates on peer and self-assessment and it covers the three English attainment targets in the National Curriculum: speaking and listening, reading, and writing, and is available for four different age groups: 7-8, 8-9, 9-10 and 10-11 year olds.
- ends - Notes for editors: - Mathematics Inside the Black Box, English Inside the Black Box and Science Inside the Black Box cost £4.25 each. - The original titles, Inside the Black Box and Working Inside the Black Box, cost £3.50 and £4 respectively. - Each Assessment for Learning: Literacy pack costs £75 plus VAT. - For teachers requiring further information, please contact nferNelson on telephone 0845 602 1937, visit www.nfer-nelson.co.uk or email information@nfer-nelson.co.uk. About nferNelson:Part of the Granada Learning Group, nferNelson is the UK’s leading independent provider of tests, assessments and assessment services for education. nferNelson publishes assessments for the 0-19 age group, with the majority of assessments aimed at 5-14 year-olds. URL: http://www.nfer-nelson.co.uk
For further information, please contact: Danielle Morgan PR Manager, Granada Learning Tel: 020 8996 3632 Email: danielle.morgan@granadamedia.com
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