2. Summative Assessment “ Summative assessment is used to indicate the extent of a learner's success in meeting the assessment criteria used to gauge the intended learning outcomes of a module or programme.” (UK QAA, 2006) “ Any assessment activity which results in a mark or grade which is subsequently used as a judgement on student performance. Ultimately judgements using summative assessment marks will be used to determine the classification of award at the end of a course or programme.” (Irons 2008, p.7)
3. Types Unseen & seen examination in controlled conditions (e.g. 3 questions in 3 hours) Open Book or Take-Away exam Multiple Choice Test in controlled conditions (paper-based) In-class test Essay or report (e.g. on an individual or group project) Portfolio Dissertation Presentation (may be peer-assessed and/or tutor-assessed) Performance (e.g. musical or dramatic) Oral examination (e.g. foreign language speaking skills) Attendance Participation in lectures and/or seminars/online discussion boards, or group work (may be peer-assessed and/or tutor-assessed) Creation / production of physical (or virtual) artefact Different methods of summative assessment may be appropriate for the evaluation of different parts of the subject matter (Ramsden, 2003). There will rarely be one method that satisfies all educational objectives (Light & Cox, 2001).
17. Essays / Assignments Rationale:- Arguably, the most common approach to assessment within the programme I teach, and the school / college / university? What are they? Questions inviting extended written responses. Varying approaches to content: from book review to literature review, from reflection to academic argument. Teacher decides parameters: Clear guidance and criteria set (as opposed to projects). Dan
18. Should be able to test high level cognitive skills (analysis and synthesis) Divergent rather than convergent thinking Important for self expression and commitment Enable the student to explore deeply a field or topic Develop initiative and resourcefulness Enhance time and project management skills Provide personal ownership of learning Foster independence and creative problem solving Advantages Drawbacks Can be narrow in relation to content of modules Reliability Understanding of wording / interpretation of question / Criteria Regurgitation of lectures Difficult to mark fairly – enhance differential marker tendencies Time consuming to set up, monitor and feedback Difficult to assess failure Fear of plagiarism Differences in help sought by students Dan
19. Essays in Nurse education Recent development as nurse education moved into higher education in the 1990’s as part of process of becoming more ‘professional’. Academic element to study. Brennan (1999), argued for essays to be embraced as part of this and developed not just as assessment tasks but teaching tool through design, implementation and feedback. Theory / practice divide (Gallagher, 2004) – separation of learning, teaching and assessment strategies into academic / practical Conflict of academic freedoms conflicting with codes of conduct (Snelling & Lipscomb, 2004) Course / School information NMC / GSCC requirements Academic standards? Dan
20. Student perspective Students surveyed suggested that assignments / essays: Are time consuming; Only state what has been learned Can be done in own time and support can be requested Promotes research and furthering of knowledge and critical thinking Way for tutors to assess learning and understanding Way of seeing if I understand what has been taught Assess knowledge, competence, fitness for practice The course is about ‘doing’ – and assignments don’t really demonstrate this ability. Can ‘know’ but not necessarily ‘do’ Should not be the only form of assessment Dan
21. Why use assignments Despite there being no apparent formal requirement for the use of essays / assignments within any of the programme or school requirements, they do predominate as the primary assessment method. Course requirements don’t usually prescribe use of essays, but often state that assessment should be equivalent of ......word essay. Does this reinforce view that this is the norm? the standard? Are they used and “designed as coherent part of the curriculum” (Merricks, 2002)? In future need to move away from a reliance on essays as the principle assessment strategy and look at alternative methods of assessment that are more closely aligned with learning outcomes and student development (Ellis, 2001). In Nursing especially where there is an ongoing tension between the academic (theory) and the practice, ways need to be explored of seamless assessment that values both equally and not one above the other. Dan
22. Different disciplines will use different assessment methods Practical Projects Exams In Class Exercises Essays/Assignments Keeping in mind constructive alignment (Biggs, 1999): Expected outcomes to be aligned with the learning activities and assessment method Conclusion
23. Conclusion “ ...the more you can bring teaching, learning, and assessment together; the more successful you and your students will become in knowing how and to what extent meaningful progress is being made (Ellis 2001, p.38).”
24. Biggs, J. 1999: Teaching for Quality Learning at University . SRHE and Open University Press, Buckingham. Ellis, A.K. 2001. Teaching, learning and assessment together: The reflective classroom . Larchmont: Eye on Education. Irons, A. 2009. Enhanced learning through formative assessment and feedback . London: Routledge. Light, G. & Cox, R. (2001). Learning and teaching in higher education. London: PCP Publishing. Merricks, L. 2002. Assessment in post-compulsory education. In Jarvis, P. The theory and practice of teaching. London: Kogan Page. Pp159-170. Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). (2006). Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education. Section 6: Assessment of students .Second Edition Ramsden, P. (2003). Learning to teach in higher education . Second edition. London: Routledge Farmer. Reece, I. & Walker, S. (2007). Teaching, training and learning: A practical guide . Tyne& Wear: Business Education Publishers. Wakeford, R. (1999). Principles of assessment. In Fry, H. Ketteridge, S. & Marshall, S. A Handbook for teaching and learning in higher education: Enhancing academic practice. pp 59-69. London: Kogan Page. General References
25. Sonja References Brindley, C. and Scoffield, S. (1998) ‘Peer Assessment in Undergraduate programmes’, Teaching in Higher Education , 3 (1), pp 79 – 90. Cashin, W.E. and McKnight, P.C. (1986) ‘Improving Discussions’, Idea Paper No 15, on The Idea Center website, <www.theideacenter.org/sites/default/files/Idea_Paper_15.pdf > [accessed 20/03/2011] L. Dunn (2000) ‘Selecting Methods of Assessment’, on Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development website, <www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsd/2_learntch/methods.html> [accessed 20/03/2011] Thissen, D., & Wainer, H. (2001). Test Scoring. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. Page 1, sentence 1
26. Dan References Brennan, M.J. (1995). Essay writing in nursing: alerting students and teachers to the educational benefits. In Nurse Education Today. Vol 15 (5) pp351-356. Gallagher, P. (2004). How the metaphor of a gap between theory and practice has influenced nurse education. In Nurse Education Today. Vol 24 (4) pp263-268. Snelling, P.C. & Lipscomb, M. (2004) Academic freedom, analysis and the code of professional conduct. In Nurse Education Today. Vol 24 (8) pp615-612.
summarises the development of learners at a particular time
Sometimes with exams, it can create competition, which push the competitioners to do their best.
Different disciplines will use different assessment methods and not focus only on one method but introduce different methods of assessing Constructive alignment curriculum is designed so that the learning activities and assessment tasks are aligned with the intended learning outcomes