APP and AFL

What on earth is APP or AFL?
Why do you keep using acronyms?
Please don't get cross; I am doing this for your own good.
APP stands for Assessing Pupils' Progress and AFL is short for Assessment For Learning.
And you will have to get used to acronyms.
In fact you will not only be deepening your knowledge of English you will be learning a whole new language during the PGCE - anocronymish!
So APP and AFL; why have I put these two together?
The answer is they are both about assessment - something you will have to get used to doing every day of your working life.
There are two types of assessment - summative and formative.
Summative includes more formal processes such as end of unit tests and GCSE or A-level exams.
Formative assessment is the kind of thing you will be doing every lesson such as checking pupils' work, asking questions and listening carefully to class discussion. This is AFL and helps you know where your pupils are.
APP on the other hand helps you assess the progress your pupils have made and inform you and them about what they need to do to get to the next level.
If you find all this a bit confusing, don't worry, so did I.
But invest 30 minutes of your time to watch this video on Teachers TV and it will explain everything - I promise.
If you want to gain a deeper understanding of AFL and how it works in the classroom find out from one of the architects of AFL, Dylan William, here and don't forget to stock up on coloured lollysticks.