This glossary explains terms used in AifL - Assessment is for Learning. It is not intended to be exhaustive in educational terms, nor does it include an explanation of every word used in the case study extracts. Instead, it seeks to clarify meanings in order to remove potential barriers to understanding and help the reader to appreciate the messages intended more fully.
| Wait time/waiting time | A strategy, highlighted by Black and Wiliam, of allowing some time to elapse between asking a question and taking answers. The point is to enable pupils to think, and to link the question to schemata of knowledge they already possess, before having to articulate the answer. Also known as 'think time'. |
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| WALT | An acronym for 'we are learning to'. Developed by Shirley Clarke, WALT is used to convey a learning intention. It is sometimes characterised as an owl, or an animal. |
| WILF | An acronym for ‘what I’m looking for’. An exemplification of success criteria, developed by Shirley Clarke. WILF is sometimes characterised as an animal or in comic human form. |