OECD: Synergies for Better Learning

Synergies for Better Learning, An International Perspective on Evaluation and Assessment, OECD, 2013

A major study, the OECD Review on Evaluation and Assessment Frameworks for Improving School Outcomes, was launched in late 2009 to provide analysis and policy advice to countries on how evaluation and assessment arrangements can be embedded within a consistent framework that can bring about real gains in performance across the school system. Twenty five countries were actively engaged in the Review.

The OECD report Synergies for Better Learning is intended to add value to the wide range of materials produced through the OECD Review by drawing out the key findings and policy messages. It provides analysis on how to:

• develop a coherent evaluation and assessment framework within which different components serve their purpose well and together successfully combine development and accountability to improve student outcomes
• strengthen the use of evaluation and assessment results to enhance school and classroom practices so student outcomes are improved
• facilitate the implementation of evaluation and assessment policies.

It provides a description of design, implementation and use of evaluation and assessment procedures in countries, analyses strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and offers recommendations for improvement including how results should be incorporated into policy and practice. In doing so, it synthesises research-based evidence on the impact of evaluation and assessment strategies.

Chapter summaries have been developed for each of the report’s main chapters:

Chapters 4-8 focus on the key components of evaluation and assessment frameworks:

The full report - Synergies for Better Learning, An International Perspective on Evaluation and Assessment, OECD 2013 - is available free online.