Students who know what success looks like can work to become assessment capable learners. Assessment capable learners are able to “monitor and evaluate the quality of their thinking and behavior when learning, and identify strategies that improve their understanding and skills” (McMillian & Hearn, 2008).

Through the learning process students begin to judge their own work so that they can improve their performance by identifying discrepancies between their current and desired performance. Teachers provide clear learning intentions and success criteria, which help to facilitate student self-assessment.

Reference: McMillian, J.; Hearn, J. (2008). Student self-assessment: The key to stronger student motivation and higher achievement. Educational Horizons 87, 40-49.