Assessment for the longer term

1. Assessment for the longer term Mission Impossible? Elaine Payne Senior Adviser, Higher Education Academy Assessment in Lifelong Learning, Birmingham 27 November 2006

2. Elite 10% of students 50% of 18-30 year olds Students – holiday work Work during term time Full time Varying modes Full attendance Absenteeism Motivated students Variety of motivations Low technology Virtual learning environments Didactic Collaborative, interactive Assessment by Variety of methods examination Sage on Stage Guide on Side 31% students do paid work during term time Source: Sodexho survey 2006 72% - improved career opportunities 60% - improved salary prospects Source: Sodexho survey 2006

3. 2006 National Student Survey ! Assessment is important ! Assessment defines what students regard as important, how they spend their time and how they come to see themselves as students and graduates (Brown and Knight, 1994, p. 12) 71% - arrangements for assessment fair Source: National Student Survey 2006 55% - feedback helpful Source: National Student Survey 2006

4. Feedback Plagiarism Criteria Workload Moderation Issues in Assessment

5. Certification Quality Assurance Learning Grade Proceed Selection Standards Evaluation Effectiveness “…learning elements are emphasised more than measurement ones” (Carless, 2003) Why Assess? END PRODUCT Assessment to foster learning throughout life Boud & Falchikov, 2006

6. Complexity Change Uncertainty Living and Working in 21st century • Technology • Globalisation • Knowledge • Career patterns

7. What ……….???? • Acquisition of knowledge • Learning for earning What are employers looking for? • Learning for living in 21st century • Earning • Personal development and Citizenship • Learning power

8. Resilience Reciprocity Playfulness Judgement Evaluation Transferable skills Self reliance Independence Learning power

9. How ? Effective Assessment • Contextualised • Authentic • Problem formulation • Encourage student autonomy • Promote dispositions for learning • Students as active agents Empowers learning

10. Who ? • Tutor • Student • Peer • Collaborative

11. Some suggestions • Portfolios • Action plans • Capstone projects • Role play • Simulations

12. Example Assessment Business plan – group Presentation (AGM) - peer Assessment Reflective log – individual

13. The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who can not read and write, but those who can not learn, unlearn, and relearn Alvin Toffler

14. Academy Resources 1. General Academy resources http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources.asp 2. Implementing an institutional Assessment Strategy http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources.asp?process=full_record&section=generic&id=351 3. SENLEF Project – 7 principles for effective feedback http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/senlef.htm 4. Managing Effective Student Assessment (MESA) http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/799.htm 5. Assessment Audit and Tools http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/800.htm • Card sort and dvds

15. Academy Assessment Projects • Small and specialist colleges • Students as change agents • Students supporting students • Welsh case studies • Working intensively • Subject centre resources • Networks

16. Reflections • Should we continue to assess knowledge acquisition? • Is it the role of HE to develop and/or assess the qualities required for survival in the 21st century? • If so, what criteria could we use?

18. What are employers looking for? What ……….Assessment of ???? Higgins N & Pettifor C (2002), Learning to Earning, Mander Portman Woodward