We are delighted to welcome Prof Sally Brown as ATN '08 keynote. Sally is Provost and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Assessment, Learning and Teaching, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
We asked for Sally's top five BIG IDEAS for engaging students in assessment which, dear readers, we will deliver to you over the coming weeks. Sally has very generously offered to 'find a prize' for the top three best ideas for engaging students so...post away by clicking on the link to comments below this posting.
ENGAGE...ASSESS...
BIG IDEA No1
Assessment really matters
Effective assessment significantly and positively impacts on student learning, (Boud, Mentkowski, Knight and Yorke and many others).
Assessment shapes student behaviour (they treat marks as money) and poor assessment encourages strategic behaviour (Kneale). Clever course developers utilise this tendency and design assessment tools that foster the behaviours we would wish to see (for example, logical sequencing, fluent writing, effective referencing and good time management).
References used in the preparation of Sally's 'Big Idea' posts
Your thoughts?
Posts
2 comments:
As there haven't been any comments yet, I thought I
d raise a question! As professionals we are strategic thinkers in many ways. We determine the cost/benefit outcomes in many choices we make. Do we allow students to be strategic thinkers in assessment?
Sheila
Hi Shiela - I think students will always be strategic thinkers about assessment - determining how much effort they will put in for what potential outcome.
When you say "do we allow" are you referring to choice in assessment?
That is, you can do these assignments, or instead do this end of semster exam (an option my husband had in one of his courses at another Uni - which he thought was fabulous as he can't write fast enough in exams).
It reminds me of a seminar I went to by Nerilee Flint on her PhD - students will think assessment is fair (and thereby engaging) if they believe they have the opportunity to demonstrate their capability.
Diana
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