The assessment-centered learning environment is one which focuses on formative assessment to improve both teaching and learning.
The research reviewed in How People Learn states the following conclusion:
"Formative assessment - ongoing assessments designed to make students' thinking visible to both teachers and students - are essential. They permit the teacher to grasp students' preconceptions, understand where the students are in the 'developmental corridor' from informal to formal thinking and design instruction accordingly. In the assessment-centered classroom environment, formative assessments help both teachers and students monitor progress."
What are the features of the assessment-centered environment? In their review of 580 articles on assessment, Black and William in their article, 'Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment', suggest that an assessment-centered environment should be designed to include:
| Opportunities to express understanding |
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| Opportunities to Share Feedback | Effective feedback has three essential components:
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| Opportunities for Self-Assessment and Reflection on Learning |
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