ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reviews current literature and research including assessment for, as and of learning, focusing on the need for all types of assessment and the respective role in developing outstanding learning and supporting outstanding progress. Assessment for learning is integral to outstanding teaching and integral to developing outstanding learning. The book introduces the active learning cycle and how one sequence learning within a lesson and discusses the cross-curricular learning and assessment opportunities. It also looks at the importance of questioning in the classroom, from both the teacher and pupil, and how to use questioning to assess learning and to develop higher-order conceptual and cognitive skills. The book reviews the importance of quality assurance and suggests that focusing observations on the quality of learning and not just the quality of teaching can be a better way of assessing the impact of any whole-school learning policy.
