What is assessment
Assessment:
The Queensland Studies Authority describes special provision 
as the means of making reasonable education adjustments to assessment conditions that ensure equitable assessment for all students. Special provision may apply to any student, depending on the circumstances. In making a decision about special provision, the school must take into account the mandatory and significant aspects of the subject outlined in the syllabus and the school's work program.
Equity in assessment requires that all students have an opportunity to demonstrate their current knowledge and skills, free from bias and misrepresentation.
Planning: finding out where the students are at, so that the teacher can start at an appropriate place, finding out how this particular group of students best learn.
Student feedback: so students know how they are progressing through the learning process. Explicit feedback from the teacher can provide information on what the student is doing that is effective and the next step in the learning process.
Reporting to parents and authorities: Are the students achieving a standard appropriate to their learning ability? What is the next step in their learning? What can be done to support them? What do they need to be doing for themselves?
Formative assessment: used to map/monitor learning progress during a unit of work. Formative assessment provides ongoing feedback to teachers and students. The assessment provides information on progress, and identifies and addresses areas that require further development e.g. writing folios, work conferencing, teacher questioning, learning journals, portfolios, digital portfolios, reading logs, observations, interviews, and continua such as the Year 2 Net.
Summative assessment: generally completed at the end of a unit of work to document the level of achievement. Summative assessment may include: written tests, oral presentations, concept maps, problem solving activities, project work, essays, formal assignments and exams. This assessment can provide feedback to the teacher about the effectiveness of the unit of work.
Diagnostic assessment: designed to identify areas of weakness and strength. Diagnostic assessment may include: checklists, running records, continua and formal assessment tools.
Assessment is integral to the teaching and learning cycle. When planning assessment tasks as part of a unit of work, it is important to cater for all students in the class.
When constructing an assessment task/activity the teacher will consider a range of points.
What are you trying to assess?
Can students demonstrate their learning in another way? For a student with difficulties with reading and writing, a formal pen-and-paper test is not the best way to assess their understanding and learning of the skills and knowledge taught - it is more likely that literacy skills are being assessed. Consider alternative forms of assessment such as:
Check that the student understands the assessment task. Is the language used clear and explicit?
What specific needs may the student have to be able to access the task? Will they need a reader, a scribe, extra time or a reduction in the length or complexity of the task?
Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework
Queensland Studies Authority has information on special provisions allowed in the senior years, and general assessment information.
Listen to what a teacher from Clifford park Special School has to say about assessment. Video link will open in a new browser window 1.4 Mb.
Find out how Clifford Park Special School tackled this issue across the whole school. Video link will open in a new browser window 3.5 Mb
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