Centre for Bioscience, The Higher Education Academy


 

Professional Development Programme

Assessment for Learning

Tuesday 11th January, 2005

Cardiff University

This event will provide you with the opportunity to hear and learn from research projects investigating assessment practices that promote learning. You will also be able to discuss your assessment practice and learn from the experience of bioscience colleagues who have tried peer-, self- and other forms of assessment.

Having attended you will take away:

  •  practical suggestions for improving assessment
  •  examples of a range of peer- and self-assessment practices from bioscience departments
  •  a copy of 'Peer and Self Assessment: guidance on practice in the Biosciences'

 

Programme
 
10.00 Registration; Tea and Coffee
10.20 Welcome and Introduction to the day
10.30 Introduction to Assessment for Learning
Anne Crook, University of Reading
10.45 Self- and Peer-Assessment for Learning
Paul Orsmond, Staffordshire University
11.15 Discussion
11.30 Implementing Self- and Peer-assessment of Posters
Victor Kuri, University of Plymouth
12.00 Peer-Assessment of Laboratory Reports
Centre for Bioscience
12.30 Lunch
1.15 Assessment Activity
2.15 Refreshments
2.30 An investigation of undergraduate assessment in the new 3-3-3 system
Anne Crook, University of Reading
3.00 Using a conceptual framework to enhance assessment - experiences from the FAST project
Steve Swithenby, The Open University and FDTL4 FAST project
  • The Formative Assessment in Science Teaching FAST Project is an HEFCE funded collaboration between the Open University, Sheffield Hallam University and 13 other universities. The aim is to improve the effectiveness of assessment in promoting learning. An action research methodology is followed with university teachers exploring their practice within a theoretical framework of 11 conditions that are believed, when met, to lead to effective learning. These conditions are elaborations of the crucial roles of engagement and feedback.
  • FAST has developed a number of investigative tools that teachers may use to explore their assessment practice, including questionnaires and feedback coding methodologies. To date, these have been applied in 30 projects with consequent changes in pedagogy. In this talk, I will describe the work of the FAST project and the framework we use. These ideas will be illustrated by accounts of the development work taking place within Biosciences. In particular, I will comment on work aimed at understanding written feedback and its effectiveness.
3.30 Plenary - finish by 4.00 pm

PDF summary

 

Related resources

Assessment for Learning Sheffield Hallam University

Assessment for Learning University of the West of England