Assessment-Capable Learners

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Why it works

Research (notably Hattie) identifies assessment-capable or self-regulated learners, students who understand where they are going (the learning goal and success criteria), can judge where they are now (through self-assessment against clear criteria), and know strategies to close the gap, as among the most powerful influences on achievement. Developing this capacity means making learning goals and success criteria clear, teaching students to self-assess accurately, giving them strategies and feedback to close gaps, and gradually transferring ownership so students drive their own learning, rather than depending on the teacher to judge and direct.

The research: Research on assessment-capable learners (Hattie).

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

The core activity: develop the three questions

Teachers leave with a plan to develop the three questions and transfer ownership.

Pick a learning goal.
Make where students are going (goal and success criteria) crystal clear.
Teach students to judge where they are now (accurate self-assessment).
Give strategies and feedback to close the gap, and transfer ownership gradually.

Students in charge of the three questionsAssessment-capable learners know where they are going, where they are, and how to close the gap. Develop this capacity and transfer ownership, so students drive their learning.

Facilitator notes

Make goals and criteria clear, and teach accurate self-assessment.
Give gap-closing strategies.
Transfer ownership gradually.

Students who depend on you to judge and direct cannot self-regulateIf only the teacher knows the goal, judges progress, and directs, students never drive their learning. Develop the three questions and transfer ownership.

Adapt it

Elementary: clear goals, self-assessment, simple strategies.
Secondary: goals, self-assessment, gap-closing, ownership.
All settings: the three questions, transferred ownership.

Participant handout

One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

K12 Academics · Professional Learning

Assessment-Capable Learners: the three questions

Students in the driver's seat: clear goals, accurate self-assessment, gap-closing strategies, and transferred ownership.

The learning goal:
How I make the goal and success criteria crystal clear:
How I teach accurate self-assessment:
The gap-closing strategies and feedback:
How I transfer ownership gradually:

Make it stick

The three questions:

Develop the three questions.
Transfer ownership.
Bring an assessment-capable practice to the next PLC.

Common questions

What is an assessment-capable learner?

A student who can answer three questions themselves, where am I going (the goal), where am I now (self-assessment), and how do I close the gap (strategies), driving their own learning rather than depending on the teacher to judge and direct.

How is this different from self-assessment?

Self-assessment is one piece (judging where you are). Assessment-capable learning is the broader capacity, understanding the goal, judging progress, and knowing how to close the gap, with ownership transferred to the student.

How do I develop it?

Make goals and success criteria clear, teach accurate self-assessment, give strategies and feedback to close gaps, and gradually transfer ownership so students drive their learning.