Workshop 2: Assessment

Jules CassidyDr Julie Baldry Currens

Aims and Learning Outcomes for this sessionAims of this sessionTo demonstrate the importance of learning outcomes in the planning of

learning activities

Learning Outcomes of this sessionAt the end of the workshop you will be able to:1. Define the term learning outcome and the difference between this

and other terms e.g. learning objective2. Discuss the factors which are salient in the construction of learning

outcomes.3. Critique learning outcomes from a programme of study with which

you are familiar.4. Identify a range of assessment tasks relevant to a set of learning

outcomes.

Aims/Goals & Learning Outcomes

Academics often find it easier to identify their aims when planning a programme or module or learning activity, than the Learning Outcomes.

WHY might this be?

Definition – Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes:

‘statements of what a learner is expected to know, understand and/or be able to do at the end of a period of learning.’

(Bologna Working Group 2005: 37)

Learning Outcomes ..or Learning Objectives?• LOs are now used where previously we had Aims

and Learning Objectives.• Learning Objectives are now thought to be too

teacher centred and passive – focusing on us & what we do during the learning activity, and the content we present to learners in lectures, seminars etc.

• Learning Outcomes, in contrast, are student centred with their focus on what it is that students can do, following a learning experience.

6

Learning Outcomes

• Help students to understand what they can be expected to know and be able to do at the end of the course

• Provide a clear framework against which to measure students’ success and the effectiveness of the learning strategies adopted

Learning Outcomes

LOs are fundamental to good curriculum and learning activity design.

LOs usually begin with a statement like:‘At the end of this module/lecture/seminar students will be able to:

LOs are usually expressed using active verbs.

Constructive Alignment

‘Constructive Alignment (Biggs, 1999) is one of the most influential ideas in higher education. It is the underpinning concept behind the current requirements for programme specification, declarations of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and assessment criteria, and the use of criterion based assessment.’ (Houghton 2004)

Constructive Alignment‘There are two parts to constructive

alignment: • Students construct meaning from what they

do to learn.• The teacher aligns the planned learning

activities with the learning outcomes.The basic premise of the whole system is that

the curriculum is designed so that the learning activities and assessment tasks are aligned with the learning outcomes that are intended in the course. This means that the system is consistent. (Houghton 2004)

How to construct LOs (HEA) Learning outcomes should:• be written in the future tense• identify important learning requirements• be achievable and assessable• use clear language easily understandable

to students (Overton 2005)

How to construct LOs (HEA) ‘Learning outcomes should not use terms such as ‘understand’ or ‘appreciate’ as it is not immediately obvious to a student what they have to do in order to demonstrate that they ‘understand’ or ‘appreciate’ something. Tutors should think about how they ask their students to demonstrate their understanding. They may ask students, during an examination, to describe a process, to discuss a concept, to evaluate some data or to derive an equation. These are the tasks that the student actually does in order to demonstrate understanding, so these terms can be used to express the leaning outcomes.’ (Overton 2005)

How to construct LOs (HEA) ‘There are no rules on how many outcomes are appropriate per lecture course or credit point and any attempt to standardise would be completely artificial. Some modules may have many outcomes that are fairly easily achieved and assessed. Other, perhaps higher level, modules may have fewer, more complex outcomes which are more demanding to acquire and demonstrate.’ (Overton 2005)

Activity 1 – small groups

• Review the LOs on the module specification

• How would you rate the LOs?• What would you change / improve? Why?

Assessment

“ Assessment defines what the students regard as important, how they spend their time and how they come to see themselves as students and then as graduates… if you want to change student’s learning then change the method of assessment ”

Brown and Pendlebury, 1997

if we get it right, but unthinkable if we get it wrong.” Race, Brown & Smith (2005) p.xi

... . The results of our assessment influence our students for the rest of their lives and careers – fine if we get it right, but unthinkable if we get it wrong.”

Race, Brown & Smith (2005) p.xi

“ Nothing that we do to, or for, our students is more important than our assessment of their work and the feedback we give them on it ... fine if we get it right, but unthinkable if we get it wrong.” Race, Brown & Smith 2005 p.xi

“ Students can escape bad teaching; they can't escape bad assessment ” Boud 1995

Summative assessment Used to indicate the extent of a learner's

success in meeting the assessment criteria [and LOs]

Used to gauge the intended learning outcomes of a module or programme

To award a mark or grade (QAA, 2006)

Activity 2 – small groupsHow many summative assessment types

can you name in 30 seconds?

SUMMATIVE

Exams: Unseen / Seen Long /short answersMCQ Open-book Practical examsOSCEPresentationsDemonstrationViva voce

Coursework: PortfoliosEssaysAnnotated bibliographies; Journal article + abstractPosterDesign a ‘xxxx’... ... ...e.g.: Assessment Compendium http://phil-race.co.uk/

Heppel, 2008

Activity 3 – individualsHow well does the summative assessment task match the LOs on the module

specification?

Activity 4 – in pairs• What would be an alternative assessment

task that more effectively test the LOs?• Why is the new task better?

Formative assessment

Activity 5How many different methods of offering

formative feedback can you identify?

Eg’s of FA

Statement banksFeedback sheetsSelf assessment against model answersMarking previous /parts of assessments using criteriaPeer discussion/ review / assessmentPeer +/or Computer aidedKey issues listed on VLEQ+A in- session

Quizes + Test Q’s at home Short MCQsSimulations + Practice tasksSummarise what is known so far1-2 mins summary of key pointsPrepare bullet point answer to mock QStudents prepare/present info on material not covered in class

Formative assessment

Activity 6• Using the new summative assessment

task, identify 2 formative tasks that would help promote learning and prepare for summative assessment.

BibliographyBiggs, J. (1999) Teaching for Quality Learning at University, Buckingham: OUP.

Bloom’s Taxonomy, Louisiana State University [online] Available from: http://www.biology.lsu.edu/heydrjay/Bloom%27s%20Taxonomy.gif [12 February 2010]

Bologna Working Group (2005) A Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, Copenhagen: Ministry of Science, Technology & Education [online] Available from: http://www.bologna-bergen2005.no/Docs/00-Main_doc/050218_QF_EHEA.pdf [10 February 2010].

Boud, D. (1995) Enhancing learning through self assessment London: Kogan PageComeaux, J. (2005)

Bibliography

Comeaux, J. (2005) Bloom’s Taxonomy, Louisiana State University [online] Available from: http://www.biology.lsu.edu/heydrjay/Bloom%27s%20Taxonomy.gif [12 February 2010]

Houghton, W. (2004) Engineering Subject Centre Guide: Learning and Teaching Theory for Engineering Academics. Loughborough: HEA Engineering Subject Centre [online] Available from: http://www.engsc.ac.uk/er/theory/constructive_alignment.asp [13 February 2010]

Overton, T. (2005) Writing Learning Outcomes, Higher Education Academy [online] Available from: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/ps/documents/primers/primers/ps0091_writing_learning_outcomes_mar_2005.pdf [11 February 2010]

BibliographyQAA. (2001) The framework for higher education qualifications in England,

Wales and Northern Ireland, QAA [online] Available from: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/fheq/EWNI/default.asp#annex1 [15 February 2101]

QAA . (2006) Code of Practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education; Section 6: Assessment of students QAA [online] Available from: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/codeOfPractice/section6/default.asp [2 June 2011]

Race, P., Brown, S. & Smith, B. (2005) (2nd ed) 500 tips on assessment London: Routledge Falmer

Race, P. (2009) Assessment Compendium [online] Available from: http://phil-race.co.uk/most-popular-downloads/[26 October 2010]

Thank you – any

questions / comments ?

j.cassidy@uel.ac.ukj.baldrycurrens@uel.ac.uk

https://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/

AssessmentPolicy.htm