www.reap.ac.uk re-engineering assessment practices in scottish higher education dr david nicol,...
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www.reap.ac.uk
Re-Engineering Assessment Practices in Scottish Higher
Education
Dr David Nicol, Project DirectorMs Catherine Owen, Project Manager
Centre for Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement
www.reap.ac.uk
www.reap.ac.uk
Community drivers
Quality Enhancement Framework: enhancement themes initiative
first theme: assessment key findings:
assessment ‘overload’ formative/summative balance provision of effective feedback aligning teaching, learning and assessment innovative assessment techniques
www.reap.ac.uk
SFC transformation programme
REAP is one of six projects funded under the SFC E-Learning Transformation Programme
SFC principles/definitions of transformation: real changes occur changes are measurable changes are sustainable changes are embedded
www.reap.ac.uk
Project philosophy
definitions of assessment: summative, formative and developmental
players in assessment process: students, tutors, peers, computers
assessment and feedback are key drivers of student learning
‘assessment’ encompasses a broad range of activities and approaches
a varied portfolio of technologies can support assessment and feedback
www.reap.ac.uk
The project
‘re-engineering’ assessment design and delivery in core modules across three institutions: Strathclyde University Glasgow Caledonian
University/Caledonian Business School University of Glasgow
focus on first year classes
www.reap.ac.uk
Project objectives
encourage and support best practice development in assessment/feedback delivery in 12 modules/classes
introduce portfolio of mutually-supporting e-learning tools and technologies
pilot, test and refine course re-design identify and overcome barriers disseminate learning benefits and
efficiency gains to encourage others
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Task
With your neighbour discuss:What are the barriers for you in addressing these issues in your teaching? using assessment to help develop life-
long learning skills providing effective feedback harnessing new technologies to provide
efficiency gains
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LEN Feedback
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Assessment in first year
contextual drivers for change: large class sizes (up to 600 students) under-resourced modules limited feedback opportunities poor student engagement with subject lack of subject/class identification dysfunctional learning behaviours disappointing exam pass rates/marks retention rates
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Example pilot: Strathclyde UniversityDepartment of Psychology
580 first year students, of which circa 130 will continue the subject into second year
drivers for change: improving learning experience improving standard of second year
entrants improving overall exam marks
www.reap.ac.uk
Example pilot: Strathclyde UniversityDepartment of Psychology
first stage of re-engineering: harnessing available and sustainable
technology introducing ‘scaffolded’ formative assessment
opportunities developing ‘learning community’
challenges participation incentives quality of engagement practical delivery issues summative potential?
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Example pilot: Strathclyde UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
240 first year students drivers for change:
student focus on ‘marks’ rather than learning gains
tendency for bright students to ‘slack off’ during second semester
high staff workload in marking new teaching materials increasingly
available on-line
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Example pilot: Strathclyde UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
portfolio of technologies to support and engage students: online homework system publisher’s assessment tools and tests PRS EVS system (electronic voting in
the classroom)
‘just in time teaching’ innovation
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REAP into 2007
2005/6 semester two: participating departments evaluate and refine existing pilots
2005/6 semester two/summer: new methodologies explored and new technologies added
2006/7 semester one: second iterations and new pilots, some new classes and modules
2006/7 semester two: full implementation of successful pilots, plans in place for sustainable use of methodologies and technologies, evidence of further take-up in participating departments and elsewhere in partner institutions
www.reap.ac.uk
Further information:
Dr David NicolREAP Project [email protected]
www.reap.ac.uk
Ms Catherine OwenREAP Project Manager