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Role of Educational Assessment in European Education and European Society. Chris Whetton, President, AEA-Europe. Outline. Purposes of Assessment Historical Trends Current Roles Current Issues in Assessment Response of Assessment Providers. Purposes of assessment.
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Role of Educational Assessment in European Education and European Society Chris Whetton, President, AEA-Europe
Outline • Purposes of Assessment • Historical Trends • Current Roles • Current Issues in Assessment • Response of Assessment Providers
Purposes of assessment • To provide information to assist in a decision • May be: • Summative (at the end of a period of study) • Formative (integrated into teaching and learning) • About • Individual Student • Groups (Classes, Schools, Areas, Countries)
Summative Purposes • For Individuals • Certification • Selection • Advice • For Groups • Monitoring • Resource Allocation • Treatment • Accountability
Users of Information • Individuals • Parents • Students • Universities • Employers • Groups • Schools • Politicians • Public
Formative Information • Generally for Individuals • Embedded in Teaching and Learning
Other Purposes • Introduce Curriculum Change • Teachers’ Professional Development • Pressurise Students • Pressurise Schools and Teachers • Parental Choice
Historical development in UK • 19th Century • Selection for Civil Service • (Merit, Reduce corruption) • Early 20th Century • Selection for Academic Education • (Universities, Selective Schools, Ideas of Innate Ability) • Assessment of low achievement
Historical development in UK • 1960s & 1970s • School Leaving Certification for All • 1980s • Monitoring Programmes • 1990s • Accountability • 21st Century • Formative Assessment • Assessment for Learning
Growing Purposes Early Years Selection 1970s Selection, Certification Selection, Certification Monitoring, Accountability 1990s Selection, Certification Monitoring, Accountability, Formative Assessment & Assessment for LearningInfluencing Educational Process 2000s
Variable Role of Assessment in European Education and Society • According to History and Circumstances • Selection – Almost all countries for higher education, but differences in philosophy and assessment • Contrast of UK, Sweden and Italy
Variable Role of Assessment in European Education and Society • Certification – All countries? • But school certificate or global qualification or subjects • Vocational education • What Age? • Monitoring – Some countries • National Assessment (All students or samples) • or Use international surveys (PISA, TIMSS,PIRLS)
Variable Role of Assessment in European Education and Society • Accountability • “Anglo Saxon Disease” (French View) • Different Views of Purpose of Education • Explicit Role of Formative Assessment • Related to Summative Uses? • Or only for teachers?
Current Issues for Assessment Systems in Europe (1) • Systems with too many purposes • Issues of Trust in assessment • Issues of Trust in teachers • Fairness for All in Diverse Societies
Current Issues for Assessment Systems in Europe (2) • Changing Curriculum for the Information Age • Use of Information Technology in Assessment • Measurement of Soft Skills and Values (Team working, problem solving etc)
Response of Assessment Providers • Be clear about Purposes • Recognise Rights of All Involved • Students, Parents, Employers, Society, Elected Representatives • Balance Needs of Reliability, Validity, Load on students and schools • Welcome change, but introduce it carefully
Role of Educational Assessment in European Education and European Society • Chris Whetton • c.whetton@nfer.ac.uk • www.aea-europe.net