Linking assessment to learning objectives

1. Linking assessment to learning objectives Matt Jarvis and Julie Hulme

2. Assessment is….? A tool to measure whether students have achieved learning outcomes/lesson objectives Needs to be valid and reliable – like psychological tests Should be a close match between what you intend students to be able to do, and how you assess them

3. Assessment is…? Formative and summative A stimulus for feedback and feedforward A way of evaluating students’ performance and achievement A way of comparing students to other students A way of measuring whether you have achieved what you want to

4. Assessment starts with learning outcomes Concrete learning outcomes help to determine what is to be measured Understand vs be able to describe/discuss/explain/answer questions on… Can determine the form of assessment – write an essay, answer practice exam questions, peer teaching exercises, questions in class

5. Learning outcomes reflect different aspects of education Cognitive – relating to content: e.g. explaining the key components of the multistore memory model, describing a key study Skills – transferable: e.g. writing skills, or drawing an appropriate graph, or critical thinking Affective – personal and emotional: e.g. overcoming fear of research methods or biopsychology, or developing an enthusiasm or curiosity around a topic

6. Learning outcomes can be differentiated All students will… Some students will… A few students will… Good for inspections! But good for you and for students (you can set targets which are appropriate for students with different needs and abilities)

7. How does this link to assessment? Assess the thing you want to measure (surface validity) to see if the student has achieved it Don’t just focus on assessing the content – three elements Set assessment that allows good students to shine and weaker students to achieve – avoid floor and ceiling effects Vary assessment methods according to learning outcomes

8. How does this link to assessment? Varying assessment has several benefits: Helps to develop new skills Allows different students to show their different skills and abilities Allows you to assess different aspects of learning on different occasions

9. Marking criteria Explicitly linked to assessment and to learning outcomes Allow students to self evaluate and become reflective, metacognitive learners Allow you to demonstrate to students exactly what they’ve achieved or need to improve

10. Applying in practice Look at some of the AOs from your spec How can you translate them into “good” learning outcomes? How would you assess these outcomes effectively? What learning might you expect to come out of the assessment itself?