Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) assessments and

(1)

211038

6 December 2021 Prep – Year 10 Number: 058/21

Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) assessments and

resources for Queensland schools

Purpose

To inform schools of the availability of Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) resources to support students with disabilities and diverse learning needs from January 2022.

Background

The suite of Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) resources supports teachers to plan for students with disabilities and diverse learning needs. The ABLES assessments and resources:

• help teachers assess students’ skills across learning areas

• generate individualised and cohort reports for planning personalised learning

• provide suggested teaching strategies aligned to students’ individual learning needs

• help teachers track student progress and achievements.

ABLES assessments help identify each student’s skills across nine developmental learning progressions:

1. English — Speaking and listening 2. English — Reading and writing 3. Mathematics

4. Personal and social capabilities — Self awareness 5. Personal and social capabilities — Emotional awareness 6. Personal and social capabilities — Social awareness 7. Critical and creative thinking

8. Movement 9. Digital literacy.

Memo

Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority

(2)

Memo

Abilities Based Learning and Education Support (ABLES) assessments and resources for Queensland schools

Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 6 December 2021 Page 2 of 2

ABLES trial

From 2019–21, the QCAA coordinated a trial of the ABLES assessments and resources. An evaluation of the trial sought to determine the use and usefulness of ABLES in Queensland contexts.

The evaluation found that the ABLES assessments and resources support teachers to plan for students with disabilities and diverse learning needs in specific contexts, schools, and for particular students. In these contexts, schools reported:

• strengthened collaborative planning processes

• enhanced confidence in identifying students’ level of understanding

• broadened teaching practices aimed at targeting students’ specific learning needs.

The final evaluation report can be accessed on the QCAA’s website.

In response to the findings of the ABLES trial, the QCAA Board approved continued access to the ABLES assessments and resources for Queensland schools from January 2022.

What you need to do

Register online by Friday 18 February 2022 to use the ABLES assessments and resources for 2022.

Note that in 2022 the maximum cost for access to ABLES and the University of Melbourne support service will be $440.00 (including GST) per school.

The QCAA is delivering free information webinars for schools interested in learning more about the ABLES assessments and resources.

Book online for one of these webinars, via the QCAA website:

• Thursday 27 January 2022, 3:30–4pm

• Wednesday 2 February 2022, 3:30–4pm

• Wednesday 9 February 2022, 3:30–4pm.

Finding out more

Please email Chris Brown, Manager K–10 Policy and Resource Development, at [email protected], or phone (07) 3120 6179.

Jacqueline Wilton

Executive Director, Curriculum Services

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 | Copyright notice: www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/copyright — lists the full terms and conditions, which specify certain exceptions to the licence. |