Learning and Teaching
Ms Jodie Connell - Deputy Principal
The importance of feedback in assessment
Over the next week or so, you will start to see feedback on your PAM account on your child’s progress to date. The SIMON Learning Management System integrated into the Parent Access Module (PAM) provides timely results and feedback at your fingertips. It is just a matter of clicking on the results in PAMs to bring up a combination of formal feedback, rubric outlines, and further details of the assessment. This allows you to discuss the results in real-time with your child to set goals and strategies for continued improvement.
In recent years there has been a fundamental change in the way schools think about the role and nature of assessment and the vital role feedback plays in significantly improving learning outcomes for all students. The driver of this change has been the overwhelming weight of evidence and research from international experts such as Professor John Hattie, who have shown how learning outcomes significantly improve when teachers use assessment to provide ‘feedback information’ about aspects of a learner’s performance or understanding. Feedback, Hattie states “fills a gap between what is understood (How am I going?) and what is aimed to be understood (Where am I going?).”
We are consistently asked ‘how best to utilise the feedback given and how to discuss it with my child?’ Below are some essential points in making the most of the feedback provided by your child’s teacher.
Types of feedback used with learners
Feedback is one of the most effective teaching and learning strategies and has an immediate impact on each child’s learning progress. This feedback can be a teacher to learner, learner-to-teacher, self-assessment and feedback to and from peers.
The importance of descriptive feedback
Whilst grades/marks are given for tests, assignments, and School Assessed Classwork (SACs), descriptive feedback is typically provided on a day-to-day basis by teachers in their interactions with students. They can be provided but not limited to a comment, rubric or verbal feedback.
Descriptive feedback can emphasise the strengths of the child’s work and areas that they may need to work on and what they need to do next. The feedback we provide to students firstly focuses on what the student could make, say, do or write, while secondly providing detail on what the student is next ready to learn, and what they can do to improve. It is important that parents and guardians support the importance of descriptive feedback and not just focus on the grades.
How to support feedback given to your child
You can support teachers’ feedback to your child by regularly talking with them about specific pieces of work that their teacher has provided feedback on. Some guiding questions could include:
- What do you think you did well?
- What do you think you need to improve on?
- What do you think your teacher wants you to work further on?
- What did you learn?
It is good to start to establish that your child understands what is being discussed. Encourage your child to note down any questions they may have about the feedback given, and encourage them to follow up with questions for their teacher in a timely fashion.
If your child feels that they are making mistakes, do not understand or can’t do something immediately, remember to reinforce that making mistakes, or struggling to understand or do something, is a normal part of the learning process. Stay positive about your child’s learning. It is important to remember that each child is different; some will find elements of their learning program more challenging than others.
If you have concerns please speak with your child’s homeroom teacher or the relevant subject teacher. Some questions that may be useful could include:
- How well is my child doing?
- What are my child’s strengths and what do they need to work further on?
- What progress have they made?
- What do they need to do now?
- How can I best help my child with their learning?
Reading Renaissance Program (Years 7 and 8)
Our reading program has begun again as Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College is committed to improving your child’s literacy skills. Once a fortnight, students go to the library with their English class and our Library team works with students to improve their reading skills. Good reading is essential for students to access information in all subject areas from Years 7 to 12.
If your child can add to this 1-hour intensive reading per fortnight by reading 20 minutes each night at home, then consider the improvements they would make. They would see improved results in the classroom including better vocabulary when speaking and writing, greater fluency, deeper understanding of the information they read in class and higher confidence in reading.
NAPLAN Tests
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 7 and 9 students are held in May each year. In 2023 the NAPLAN Online test window is between Wednesday 15th March and Friday 24th March. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers, and principals and can be used to improve student achievement.
NAPLAN Online delivers numerous benefits including:
- a ‘tailored test’ design that adapts to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of student achievement;
- innovative use of technology, including a more engaging test design and a wider range of item types.
All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests. Catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days up to and including Friday 24th March 2023.
Support can be arranged for students with disabilities, if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. Letters have been sent home to families requesting consent for adjustments.
Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for less than one year. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or exemption, you should discuss this with myself or Erica Masters prior to the tests. Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.
Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parents or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with the principal. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a student withdrawal form.
Later in the year, you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.
We are confident that the information you receive as a result of your child’s participation in the NAPLAN tests will be valuable in helping you to assess your child’s progress in literacy and numeracy.
For more information about NAPLAN Online, please visit the VCAA website at http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/ or the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au
Elevate Education Parent Webinar Seminars
Elevate Education are continuing to provide parents of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional Student College exclusive access to their Parent Webinar Series for Term 1, 2023.
To reserve your spot, you can register for free below,
Wednesday 15th March - Using Technology and Beating Distractions
Click here to register for free
Here's what Elevate will be covering on the night:
✅Technology addiction and how to reduce technology dependence
✅Practical strategies and apps to minimise procrastination
✅How to help your child use technology productively to enhance their learning
Wednesday 29th March Memory
The webinars are run live online from 6.30pm – 7.30pm (AEST) where the presenter will share Elevates key research and skills, and will conduct a live Q&A so you can ask them questions directly. If you are unable to make the webinar, don't worry! If you sign up to attend, you'll receive the webinar recording on Thursday morning.
Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below.
✉️ auscoaching@elevateeducation.com