A theory of improvement for teachers' professional development in assessment for learning

To strengthen the practice of Competence-based Education (CBE) it’s needed to realise the potential of Assessment for Learning (AfL). However, teachers are usually not trained in designing assessment practices in CBE and professionalization in AfL is complicated. It’s needed to design a Theory of Improvement in which is described what professionalization activities are needed and how those characteristics contribute to teachers’ learning. A description of the characteristics of the ‘Theory of Improvement’ for teacher professionalization in AfL is the result of this literature study. Characteristics are: Conceptions on assessment and assessment practice which are challenged in a personal enquiry and congruent professional development of teachers and middle management. This Theory of improvement leads to the most suitable approach for this professional development in a Professional Learning Community (PLC). A PLC is closely related to the concept of collaborative learning communities.