26 Connecting assessment for learning and the science of learning for better teaching

Assessment for Learning has shaped classroom thinking for decades, emphasising how evidence guides teaching. More recently, the Science of Learning has been embedded in curriculum thinking, highlighting how memory, attention, and understanding develop. This workshop, led by Garry Taylor, explores how these two perspectives can strengthen each other rather than compete—showing how long‑standing AfL principles align with, and are enriched by, insights from cognitive science. Together they offer a more coherent view of how learning happens and how teaching can respond.

Garry is a passionate advocate of using assessment to support and accelerate learning. Garry has facilitated in and been project lead for multiple assessment focused projects since 2005 and is currently National Manager for Curriculum and Assessment at Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga. He has been an Executive member of the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI) since 2019.

Find Garry’s presentation slides here: Garry Taylor Connecting Assessment For Learning And The Science Of Learning For Better Teaching

 

Categories: Conference 2026
Tags: assessment for learning, science of learning