Research shows that having a multilingual background has many advantages. However, several studies indicate that students’ multilingual backgrounds are not used as resources in the classroom. Most classroom studies on multilingualism have been conducted at mainstream schools, and a few in classes for newly arrived students at mainstream schools. This study investigates teachers’ qualifications, perceptions and practices concerning multilingualism at a secondary school in Norway devoted entirely to newly arrived students. Using mixed methods, the findings reveal that teachers possess some basic knowledge of multilingualism, but fail to apply the knowledge in classroom settings. They focus primarily on the development of students’ second language, in this case Norwegian, even in third language classes such as English, indicating that they believe language learning occurs stepwise rather than simultaneously. The study calls for more classroom research on how newly arrived students’ language proficiencies are recognised, assessed, seen as resources and utilised in their education.

Despite the crucial role that students play in formative assessment practices, student perspectives on such practices are relatively under-researched. Through a qualitative analysis of 128 reflection notes written by student teachers of English, this article investigates the students’ perceptions of formative feedback as part of portfolio assessment at two teacher education institutions in Norway. As such, it contributes to bridging the gap between research and practice. Students received peer and teacher feedback on assignments and wrote reflection notes during the semester. Findings show that students are positive towards teacher feedback and highlight the significance of teacher praise. Main objections raised against peer feedback concern the lack of constructive criticism. However, positive attitudes towards peer discussion groups suggest that they may be a more effective way of implementing peer assessment than formalised written peer commentary. Student reflections suggest that a failure to understand the task and the feedback is a possible hindrance to successfully revising assignments. Overall, students’ positive attitudes towards the portfolio process, which includes multiple drafting, suggest that students in higher education would benefit from more opportunities to revise and resubmit their work, yet they need adequate practice in providing peer feedback, and interpreting and implementing feedback in general.

Recognizing the importance of formative assessment, this mixed-methods study investigates how four teachers and 100 students respond to the new emphasis on formative assessment in English as a foreign language (EFL) writing classes in Norway. While previous studies have examined formative assessment in oral classroom interactions and focused on either studying students or teachers, little research has been conducted on formative assessment of writing where both students and teachers are studied. As such, this study provides new insight. The findings mostly indicate that contradictions are prevalent amongst teachers’ and students’ perceptions of formative assessment of writing. The contradictions revolve around feedback, grades, text revision, self-assessment, and student involvement. The identified contradictions suggest the need for developing a mutual understanding of formative assessment in order to make it useful and meaningful.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to enhance learning, teaching, and assessment by providing AI-generated feedback to students. This study used five different AI plug-ins and four different knowledge bases for the optimization of feedback in classroom formative assessments. The sample consisted of 26 students and 13 teachers at five secondary schools in Norway. Interviews and unstructured observations were used to collect data. The findings indicate that AI-generated feedback is appreciated by both students and teachers. It provides immediate subject-specific, concrete, and relevant feedback. High-performing students were motivated to further improve their writing. However, some students found the feedback to be too general or complicated, and the teachers who had not conducted whole-term periodic planning struggled with using AI for formative assessment purposes. Finally, both students and teachers contend that the teacher needs to have the last word when AI takes over formative feedback procedures.