Cultural Change

Since I was introduced to Assessment for Learning I was always intrigued by how would it work in Slovakia. I was aware of obstacles represented by differences in school system and culture and the way student work. And also by the differences in curriculum. But still, Would it work in Slovakia?

I think yes, it would. I even think it would work even better than here in England. Overly optimistic? Probably I am, because I feel, that many schools and teachers in Slovakia are lacking the potential to change and willingness to take the risk. Overcoming this obstacle, AfL could thrive. What makes me say that?

1. Teacher is more independent about assessment and judgments he makes in the class. Therefore can implement many aspects of AfL without risk of failure in high-stake tests, which make many teachers in the UK teaching to test.
2. Different kind of paperwork, no student tracking and reports etc. therefore more time to create made to measure system for class or whole school.
3. Traditionally good student-teacher relationship and less hassle with classroom management, which gives more learning time to try out things.
4. Usually strong emphasis on homework and learning from lesson to lesson and home preparation for school. This is great opportunity for feedback planning, self and peer-assessment and many other aspects of AfL.

What else needs to be overcome?

• AfL is hard to implement for just one person. Willingness to collaborate with teachers in the same school and with other school is necessary. But teachers usually do not discuss their assessment strategies.
• Grades. Probably most difficult to overcome. Schools, teachers and parents are not ready to abandon grades. Well Keep them. They are part of assessment – summative one. But use them less (some teachers give approximately 11 grades in one week in one class!) and use them after feedback and other intervention took place.
• Rota learning. I admit, that I see it as occasionally good way of learning. How would you learn for test? Still rota learning does not have to be rota testing too.
• Training. All is good, to persuade teachers al over the world about benefits of AfL, but how to implement? How to ask open ended questions, how to plan, give feedback? When? And also how to retain good practice or abandon ideas, which are not working for us?