Autumn Term Event

Formative Assessment and Diagnostic Questions

Formative assessment is often misunderstood and can be seen as a gimmick that increases teacher workload. In this all-day event, we will look at what a world without formative assessment would be like (spoiler alert: it is not great), and what Craig used to do (aka "dodgy formative assessment") and why that is problematic. We will go on to take an in-depth look at the 3-stage process for using Diagnostic Questions, and how to find amazing, free collections of questions. We will then look at how we can use the 50+ million answers on Diagnostic Questions to Plan for Error, and how colleagues working together can use this to stimulate didactical discussions. We will look at what makes a good Diagnostic Question, the benefits of colleagues writing the questions together, and much more. Oh, and if you are lucky, we might also play Guess the Misconception.

Craig has been a mathematics teacher since 2004, working at Range High School in Formby, and Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton. He has been an Advanced Skills Teacher, and, since 2009, is the Secondary Maths Adviser to TES (formerly the Times Educational Supplement), the largest professional network of teachers in the world. His website www.mrbartonmaths.com is used by millions of teachers, students and parents across the world and the Mr Barton Maths Podcast has featured Dylan Wiliam, Doug Lemov, Daisy Christodoulou and Dan Meyer. Craig is also the co-creator of Diagnostic Questions, a free website hosting the world's largest collection of high-quality mathematics diagnostic multiple-choice questions, helping teachers and students around the world to identify, understand and resolve key misconceptions.

Craig’s book, How I wish I'd taught maths: Lessons learned from research, conversations with experts and 12 years of mistakes, is published by John Catt Education Ltd.

Schedule

10:00-10:15 Welcome
10:15-11:15 Diagnostic Questions in the Classroom
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Planning for Error
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 What Makes a Good Diagnostic Question?
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:45 Diagnostic Questions and Atomisation
3:45-4:00 Close

Travel info

Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU

Loughborough University is just off J23 of the M1. Our student ambassadors will be wearing purple ‘Team Loughborough’ t-shirts and direct you to the nearest car park before showing you to the venue on foot.

There are also regular Kinch ‘Sprint’ (yellow and blue) busses running to Loughborough University from Loughborough train station and the town centre that run approximately every 10-15 minutes.

Loughborough University London, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3BS

Loughborough University London is located inside Here East, an innovation hub on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Loughborough University London has fast links to Central London and the south and east of England, with easy access to the A11, A12, A13, A102, A406, M11 and M25. Westfield Stratford City has around 4,500 parking spaces. All of the car parks have easy access to the campus via the free shuttle bus, which operates from Stratford International Station's bus stop E.

If you are travelling by train, the closest stations to the campus are Stratford Station and Stratford International. From here you can get a free shuttle bus that operates from Stratford International bus stop E.

Upon your arrival you will be directed to the conference location by our student ambassadors who will be wearing purple ‘Team Loughborough’ t-shirts.

_{** Free or discounted travel may be available for teachers from schools in areas where progression to Higher Education is lower than might be expected. If you would like to discuss this further, then please contact us at lumen@lboro.ac.uk}