Joint Information Systems Committee 10/04/23 | slide 1

(E-)Assessment Guide Consultation

Ros Smith, Consultant

Joint Information Systems Committee Supporting education and research

Joint Information Systems Committee 10/04/23 | slide 2

Aims of project

■To facilitate informed decision making by FEIs and HEIs about adoption of e-assessment for both formative and summative purposes (with the emphasis on the former)

■To provide FEIs and HEIs with a starter guide addressing the effective and sound implementation of e-assessment, with links to further information

■To update the JISC community on recent findings from JISC projects on e-assessment development and research

■To complement recent JISC guides: Effective Practice with e-Portfolios (2008) and Effective Practice in a Digital Age (2009)

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Effective Practice with e-Assessment

Published in 2007 informed by an e-Assessment Roadmap project and series of case studies

An overview of the current drivers and barriers to e-assessment in post-16 education, covering summative (or high stakes) assessment, formative (or low stakes) assessment and diagnostic testing

Incorporated JISC/QCA Glossary of e-assessment terms

Attempted a development timeline

Offered case studies under three perspectives: learner, practitioner and institution

Highlighted the challenges still experienced under each perspective

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Dilemmas….

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And challenges

Greater knowledge and understanding of learners’ views of assessment in HE (NSS) and of learners’ experience of e-learning (JISC e-Learning programme)

Increased focus on student-centred teaching and learning strategies: impact on assessment

Greater range of technologies empower both practitioners and learners

e-Supported assessment techniques are now more within the reach of the technically less expert practitioner

In a Web 2.0 world, evidence is emerging of greater use of some form of technology-supported assessment practice by a wider variety of individuals

Increasing range of locations in which assessment can occur effectively eg with the support of mobile technologies

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Focus on effective assessment design and delivery

Learners learn more effectively when:

– They are actively engaged

– Their existing capabilities are brought into play

– They are appropriately challenged

– They have opportunities for dialogue with tutors and peers

– They have opportunities for formative assessment

– They receive timely and effective feedback

– They understand the criteria for assessment

– They have opportunities for self-assessment and reflection

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Focus on effective assessment design and delivery

Teachers teach more effectively when:

– They have access to results of formative assessments

– When assessment designs capture learners’ attention and time

– Learners develop one another’s understanding

– Learners act on peer and tutor feedback

– Learners can build on what is learned

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Consultation activity 1

In two groups, discuss which of the following you would like to see in a new JISC guide on e-assessment

Group 1:

Discussion of what constitutes effective assessment design

Discussion of issues related to the use of technology in diagnostic, formative and summative assessment

Principles of effective practice in the use of technology in assessment and feedback

Glossary of terms

Group 2:

Case studies illustrating different perspectives eg learner, practitioner and institutional

Case studies illustrating the embedded use of different types of technology in degrees of complexity

Case studies representing different contexts eg first-year HE, work-based assessment, vocational and academic courses

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Consultation activity 2

In the same groups, share examples of good practice in using technology for assessment and feedback. These may encompass diagnostic, formative or summative assessment

Identify principles for the effective application of technology to assessment and feedback

JISC resources on e-assessment www.jisc.ac.uk/assessment.html

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Activity feedback

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Consultation with the Experts Group

Helped to inform the development of Effective Practice in a Digital Age

Launched at the Higher Education Academy Conference – July 2009

Reviewed August 2009: "I strongly recommend you take the phone off the hook, close the office/study door, close Outlook and make sure all other distractions are kept at bay for the next 20-30 minutes so you can really give this the attention it deserves."

 www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/elearning/effective-practice-in-a-digital-age-jisc/

Joint Information Systems Committee 10/04/23 | slide 12

Consultation with the Experts Group

Your advice and guidance are much

appreciatedros.smith@gpisolutions.co.uk