MESA Universities ProgrammeMESA Universities Programme

Educate the Educators ESD Innovation Course, Nairobi, 3-9 Educate the Educators ESD Innovation Course, Nairobi, 3-9 May 2006May 2006

Innovations in Assessment, Innovations in Assessment, Monitoring and EvaluationMonitoring and Evaluation

Samuel Ayonghe (Samuel Ayonghe (Environmental Geologist/GeophysicistEnvironmental Geologist/Geophysicist)) University of Buea, CameroonUniversity of Buea, Cameroon

PRESENTATION PLANPRESENTATION PLAN ?????? ???? ??

An example of an An example of an innovation and its effectsinnovation and its effects

Patrick Abbott, in the preface of his book “Natural Disasters” Patrick Abbott, in the preface of his book “Natural Disasters” (1999), states that in the early 1970s, he and his colleaque (1999), states that in the early 1970s, he and his colleaque developed a course in developed a course in Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology at San Diego at San Diego State University (USA) which touched on:State University (USA) which touched on:

- Geological hazards- Geological hazards- Resource utilization and disposal, and- Resource utilization and disposal, and- Environmental planning- Environmental planning

EnrollmentEnrollment: : 25 to 35 students per semester for over a 25 to 35 students per semester for over a decade!decade!

1987: Course name changed to “1987: Course name changed to “Natural DisastersNatural Disasters” but ” but content unchanged.content unchanged.

Enrollment skyrocketed in the 1990s to 3,000 classroom Enrollment skyrocketed in the 1990s to 3,000 classroom seats which were still insufficient!seats which were still insufficient!

FactsFacts

Students:Students:

Are fascinated by course titles, not necessarily the Are fascinated by course titles, not necessarily the course contents,course contents,

Are generally appreciate courses of more applied Are generally appreciate courses of more applied nature, nature,

Enjoy practical/field aspects (applications) of the Enjoy practical/field aspects (applications) of the courses, andcourses, and

Love to register for courses they will succeed in.Love to register for courses they will succeed in.

DefinitionsDefinitions

AssessmentAssessment is used to test is used to test knowledge of the syllabus, i e judge knowledge of the syllabus, i e judge its worth.its worth.

MonitoringMonitoring, is keeping a continuous , is keeping a continuous record of something.record of something.

Evaluation Evaluation is ascertaining is ascertaining (appraising, judging, assessing) its (appraising, judging, assessing) its worth (amount, value).worth (amount, value).

Reasons for assessmentsReasons for assessments

Assessing students constitutes the end point Assessing students constitutes the end point of teaching and this could be based on of teaching and this could be based on different approaches of monitoring and different approaches of monitoring and evaluation.evaluation.

The process is equivalent to assessing the The process is equivalent to assessing the lecturer as well. lecturer as well.

A high rate of failures reflects the failure of the A high rate of failures reflects the failure of the lecturer, although anomalously high scores lecturer, although anomalously high scores could be indicative of watered-down could be indicative of watered-down assessments.assessments.

What we assessWhat we assess

Knowledge of the syllabus as shown in Knowledge of the syllabus as shown in the curriculum.the curriculum.

The most valued aspects of the The most valued aspects of the course.course.

Highlight why particular aspects are Highlight why particular aspects are considered as priorities.considered as priorities.

Give the student some homework Give the student some homework after graduation (e.g. Real subject after graduation (e.g. Real subject content, ESD components, etc.)content, ESD components, etc.)

Methods of AssessmentsMethods of Assessments

Use several approaches: tests, essays, Use several approaches: tests, essays, assignments, practicals, field work, assignments, practicals, field work, examinations, etc.examinations, etc.

Place emphasis on the course content Place emphasis on the course content

coverage, objectives, goals and coverage, objectives, goals and applications.applications.

The students could also contribute to the The students could also contribute to the assessment process.assessment process.

However, ensure that the However, ensure that the assessment is designed to test their assessment is designed to test their knowledge and understanding.knowledge and understanding.

In the present context, it should, In the present context, it should, from a practical point of view, clearly from a practical point of view, clearly examine the ESD inputs into the examine the ESD inputs into the curriculum.curriculum.

An exampleAn example

Desertification in the northern parts of Kenya. (25 Desertification in the northern parts of Kenya. (25 marks)marks)

A) Describe the rate, extent, and impacts of A) Describe the rate, extent, and impacts of desertification in the northern parts of Kenya. (15 desertification in the northern parts of Kenya. (15 marks).marks).

B) What mitigation approaches could be designed B) What mitigation approaches could be designed and implemented by policy makers to reduce its and implemented by policy makers to reduce its effects on the population? (10 marks).effects on the population? (10 marks).

ConclusionsConclusions

The University system will definitely The University system will definitely be revitalized for obvious reasons be revitalized for obvious reasons if:if:

The curricula are innovated with The curricula are innovated with ESD inputs, and ESD inputs, and

Aspects of ESD constitute an Aspects of ESD constitute an important aspect of assessment.important aspect of assessment.

Conclusions (contd)Conclusions (contd)

The present MESA Universities The present MESA Universities Partnership seeks to establish an Partnership seeks to establish an ““open door dialogue”open door dialogue” towards the towards the introduction (and realization) of ESD introduction (and realization) of ESD to its curricula and all of us constitute to its curricula and all of us constitute part of the “part of the “door”door” to that dialogue. to that dialogue.

That is our challenge!That is our challenge!

QuestionQuestion

What strategies would you use to What strategies would you use to innovate your approach to innovate your approach to monitoring, evaluating, and monitoring, evaluating, and assessing students with the aim of assessing students with the aim of making them conscious of the making them conscious of the relevance of components of ESD in a relevance of components of ESD in a course you teach?course you teach?

FINFIN

Sam Ayonghe (Sam Ayonghe ( “ “Natural Disasters”Natural Disasters”)) University of Buea, CameroonUniversity of Buea, Cameroon

Merci !Merci !