As part of our ongoing curriculum refinement, I’ve been applying Assessment for Learning (AfL) principles to our Creative Writing program. This includes:

1. Designing student-friendly rubrics that clarify expectations and celebrate voice and originality

2. Embedding peer feedback loops to foster reflection and revision

3. Aligning formative tasks with real-world writing purposes (e.g., advocacy, storytelling, documentation)

This process has deepened our commitment to feedback as a tool for growth, not just grading. I welcome insights from fellow educators—especially on how you nurture student agency through assessment.

Sources and inspiration:

Black & Wiliam (1998) on formative assessment

Brookhart (2013) on student-friendly rubrics