Research on AfL

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AfL Research in Singapore secondary schools

A research survey on AfL perceptions, policies and practices participated by 13 secondary schools in Singapore, found that teachers appear already convinced of the value of AfL practices, particularly those that involve and engage students. However, they report carrying out such learner-centred AfL practices less frequently. Conversely, teachers felt that assessment practices associated with grading and reporting are less important but reported frequent use of such practices. Low scores of proficiency in general suggest teachers’ acknowledgement that they need to learn more about AfL.

Read the full article here.

Further analysis into responses from the Middle Leaders (MLs) suggest that AfL has also gained traction among the MLs as suggested by the assessment practices they value more (e.g. self and peer assessment), and to help bring about valued practices among teachers, MLs used three leadership approaches best characterised as Technical, Tactical and Ethical.

The link to the full article can be found here. 

Through interviews and observations from 7 of the 13 schools, it was found that when teachers are too concerned about getting students good results for exams, they tend towards more performance-oriented practices rather than learner-centred AfL strategies that aim for broader learning goals. Teachers may need support in terms of negotiating priorities as well as time and space to plan and carry out practices that are not too narrowly focussed on exams.   

AfL research in East Asia

A review on selected AfL research in East Asia suggests that AfL and summative-oriented assessments can be harmonised productively in the classroom and there are opportunities to further think about a version of AfL that is sensitive to the East Asian context.

Get the full article here.

Based on these findings, we offer some recommendations for teachers who want to adopt a learner-centred AfL process. The brochure and poster can be downloaded below:

Here's how to cite the brochure:

Leong, W. S., Ismail, H., Tay, H. Y., Tan, K., & Lin, R. (2019). Adopting learner-centred AfL process. [Brochure]. Singapore: Author.

For more information on this study, you may contact Dr Leong Wei Shin (weishin.leong@nie.edu.sg) .