Efficiency and Effectiveness in Assessment: Challenging Times

1. Efficiency and Effectiveness in Assessment: Challenging Times Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG) Marie Stowell

2. Context: Assessment is key ‘Students can escape bad teaching; they can’t escape bad assessment’ David Boud (1995) Enhancing learning through self assessment. Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

3. Challenging Times • New fees and regulatory context • Student number controls and access targets • KIS and students as consumers • Alternative providers and partnerships: competition and collaboration • Flexible and new pedagogies and technologies • Risk-based quality assurance Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

4. Assessment is a ‘hot topic’ • Academic standards (QAA, 2009; HEFCE, 2009; IUSSC, 2009; Brown, 2011) • Credit, flexibility and funding (QAA, HEFCE, CVU) • External examiners and institutional review (UUK, 2011, QAA, 2011) • Good practice (eg Price et al. 2010; Nicol/QAA, 2009; Gibbs, 2010; NUS, 2010) • Performance indicators and public information (HEFCE, 2009 and 2010) • Student satisfaction (Williams and Kane, 2008; HEFCE, 2011) Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

5. SACWG research • Institutional regulations, processes and procedures • Degree classification • Reassessment • Enigmatic variations • Passing and failing • Progression • Achievement • See Yorke et al. 2002, 2004 and 2008 Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

6. Efficiency in assessment • Student success, retention and completion • Costs • Over-assessment? • Pass first time • Take up of reassessment • Moderation and external examining Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

7. Effectiveness of assessment • Student learning, differentiation and satisfaction • Assessment strategies: course versus module • Assessment for learning: formative assessment and feedback • Quality assurance Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

8. Some current challenges: efficiency • Regulatory frameworks • Academic year: timing of assessment + reassessment • Managing re-assessment • Re-thinking reassessment? • On-line submission • Use of Plagiarism software • Quality assurance of assessment Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)

9. Some current challenges: effectiveness • Course assessment strategies • Inclusive assessment • Variety, choice versus competence and practice • Assessment criteria and assignment briefs • Re-thinking reassessment? • Professionalising assessment practice • Student perceptions Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG)