Dylan Wiliam & Paul Black

Dylan Wiliam (b. 1950s) & Paul Black (b. 1930s)

Key Contribution / Core Idea
Championed formative assessment — using assessment to advance learning, not just record it.

Background / Context
British researchers who co-authored the seminal paper Inside the Black Box (1998).

Main Theories / Methods

• Effective feedback closes the gap between current and desired performance.

• Teachers and students share responsibility for evidence of learning.

• Questioning, peer-assessment, and self-assessment are key tools.

Relevance to Modern KS3/4 Teaching
Essential in tutoring — you constantly diagnose understanding and adapt instruction.
Their framework underpins formative quiz design, exit tickets, and live marking.

How Their Ideas Link to Others
Complements Rosenshine’s emphasis on checking understanding and Willingham’s focus on retrieval.

Strengths and Appeal
Transforms assessment from bureaucracy to a tool for learning.

Criticisms and Limitations
Implementation can become superficial (tick-box feedback) without genuine dialogue.

Legacy / Lasting Influence
Embedded in UK assessment policy and teacher development worldwide.

Further Reading
Black & Wiliam (1998) Inside the Black Box, Phi Delta Kappan.