Knowledge Centre
These pages are a repository for news and resources on assessment relevant to New Zealand education.
Article by Dr Jenny Poskitt, NZAI President, written as schools came out of lockdown, May 2020
Be kind and create space for learning, not testing
As schools came back to face-to-face learning, Associate Professor Jenny Poskitt wrote that they should focus on the main purpose of schooling – learning. It was not the time for the testing and other formal assessments normally done at that time of the year in preparation for reporting to parents and whānau, because this time things had changed.
At that time, she said, the focus was on students and whānau sharing learning information with schools, essential learning gained in the time of the COVID-19 lockdown and schooling at home.
School articles written during lockdown
Finding the Goldilocks Zone – One school’s approach to distance learning
Chris Bradbeer, Associate Principal of Stonefields School in Auckland, explains how his school aimed to keep teaching and learning at a high level, based on a sound balance between targeted learning, social connections, and enjoyable challenges.
Click here for Chris’s article.
School Life under Lockdown – Looking after our community through distance learning
Angela Thorogood of Prospect School in West Auckland explains how leaders and teachers based their distance learning procedures around the school values of whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, ako and kaitiakitanga.
School reflections after lockdown
Lessons from Lockdown – Reflections on the COVID-19 rāhui
Kaye Brunton, Principal of Ngati Toa School in Porirua, reflects on her school’s experiences of distance learning during lockdown. “What we do think is that we are part of our children’s quality worlds, and that there are bigger things than just achievement that school provides.”
Click here for Kaye’s article.
Assessment for learning and home learning
Vivienne Mallabar, Leader of Learning at Ormiston Junior College, explores the successes and challenges of distance learning, and how teachers included the fundamental assessment for learning practices. The school is now interested in exploring a blended online/offsite form of learning,
We’ve been pleased to be able to keep in touch with you all virtually in 2020 through webinars.
Find copies of the webinars and the power points used in the presentations by clicking here.
Webinars to date include:
- School assessment realities and possibilities in 2020
- Linking assessment planning to your local curriculum
- Essential assessment during COVID-19: Learning from Terry Crooks
NZAI Newsletters
Winter 2020 edition of the NZAI newsletter
Summer 2020 edition of the NZAI newsletter .
Spring 2019 edition of the NZAI newsletter.
Winter 2019 edition of the NZAI newsletter.
Have our newsletters and other NZAI news sent straight to your inbox. Becoming an NZAI member will put you on our mailing list. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll be pleased to welcome you to NZAI membership.
Resources from 2018 and 2019 seminars and meetings
NZAI held national and regional assessment seminars in 2018 and 2019. We’ve collected resources from these seminars for you.
Click the links below to go to the resources.
- 2019 seminars, national and regional
- 2018 Christchurch national seminar
- 2018 Wellington national seminar
- 2018 Auckland national seminar
Meeting notes from the International Educational Assessment Network
The International Educational Assessment Network (IEAN) was established at the end of May, 2018. The small nations/states include: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, Slovenia, New Zealand, Ontario (Canada), Norway, and Singapore.
Our president, Dr Jenny Poskitt, is the New Zealand research representative at the IEAN meetings. Her notes give us insights into common issues faced by member countries.
Click here for Jenny’s notes for the 2018 meeting.
Click here for Jenny’s notes for the 2020 online meeting.
Assessment for Learning guide
This guide, for school and curriculum leaders, covers informal assessment for learning in the classroom, assessment tools and advice on choosing assessment tools for the right purposes.
It will support schools to review their assessment policies and procedures and can be used for ongoing review.
Thoughts on Curriculum and Assessment from a New Zealand teacher in London
Sue Leslie, a teacher and assessment facilitator of long standing in the New Zealand education community, has been living and teaching in London for the last couple of years. She has some thoughts on the differences between the New Zealand and English curriculum and assessment systems, and some suggestions. Click here for Sue’s article.
