Transforming Schools and Systems Using Assessment: A Practical Guide

by Anne Davies, Sandra Herbst, Beth Parrott Reynolds

Leadership is a continuous work in progress. Leaders must not only move toward success purposely and thoughtfully but also ensure that others are working toward their vision as well. When trying to incorporate system change, leaders will encounter obstacles that may divert their focus from the end goal. Staying on track toward success is difficult in the face of change and, at times, resistance, but assessment for learning provides the foundation and processes that leaders need in order to plan next steps and move from where they are to where they want to be. Using the same steps that enable students to achieve, leaders can employ assessment for learning techniques to plan for, implement, gather feedback about, and collect evidence of change for learning. The goal is organizational learning constant, informed change. Transforming Schools and Systems Using Assessment shows leaders how to engage in system change using the principles of assessment for learning by exploring subjects such as:

systemic focus and alignment

professional development

resistance

parents and community

quality feedback

standards-based reporting

Whether the system is a school, a cluster of schools, or an entire district, this book will help leaders put into practice the principles and big ideas of assessment for learning to lead the way to system change at all levels of education.

161 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Anne Davies, PhD, is an author, a consultant, and a researcher. With more than 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Davies has worked in a variety of positions, including classroom teacher, school district coordinator, department of education planner, school administrator, and university instructor. A world-renowned keynote presenter, her genuine care and commitment to support educators and their important work make her an approachable and insightful specialist.

Educators at every grade level throughout Canada, the United States, and other countries have benefited from the high-touch support Dr. Davies provides during professional development events and multiyear projects. She has worked with the University of Southern Maine; University of Victoria, Victoria, BC; University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK; McGill University, Montreal, QC; Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon; and the University of New England, Portland, Maine.

Dr. Davies is author/coauthor of more than 30 books and resources, including the Knowing What Counts series and the award-winning two-book set, Classroom Assessment, and The Facilitator's Guide to Classroom Assessment K-12. One of her most recent projects is the popular multimedia resource kit Workshop-in-a-Box. She has written book chapters and articles for educational journals and publications worldwide.

Dr. Davies earned a doctorate in education from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

Dr. Davies is the author of Making Classroom Assessments Work and the co-author of A Fresh Look at Grading and Reporting in High Schools, Transforming Schools and Systems Using Assessment, Leading the Way to Assessment for Learning, and Setting and Using Criteria.