Combining 'Peer' and 'Online' assessment methods for large-class laboratory practicals to enhance the effective feedback to and learning experience for students

Description

Throughout our Faculty, practical classes are assessed by pape-based short-answer questions (SAQs) centred on principles encountered in the laboratory. However, increasing student numbers have progressively compromised our ability to provide effective and timely feedback to students. The development of assessment methods that enhance student learning without consequently increasing the administrative burden for staff is essential. Recently, we have successfully trialled online assessment (OA) of SAQs. We now wish to combine OA with peer assessment (PA) for the whole of our large first-year cohort (500 students) to improve our effective feedback to students. We will demonstrate for large classes that OA and PA combined satisfy the principles of successful assessment for both staff and students. Subsequently, we aim to introduce these innovative assessment processes throughout the whole Faculty.

Outcomes and Downloads

• Ferguson, G., Sheader, E. and Grady, R. (2008) Computer-Assisted and Peer Assessment: A Combined Approach to Assessing First Year Laboratory Practical Classes for Large Numbers of Students. Bioscience Education e-journal, volume 11 available at http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/journal/vol11/beej-11-4.htm (accessed 13 June 2008)

Links

Self- and Peer-Assessment: Guidance on Practice in the Biosciences, by Paul Orsmond. The Guide can be obtained (free of charge) from the Centre or is available to download in pdf format. The supporting website incorporates additional case studies and details of other relevant resources.

Watch a video of peer-marking of laboratory reports from the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds

Hughes, I (2006) The Findings of an Assessment Audit: an NTFS Project Report. Bioscience Education E-journal, volume 7 available at http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/journal/vol7/beej-7-1.htm

The latest version of the assessment audit tool is available to download

View a video presentation by Professor Ian Hughes entitled 'Peer Assessment: What's it all about?'

Find out about the On-Line Assessment and Feedback (OLAAF) project which is "developing and disseminating generic guidelines for construction of Computer–based Assessment with Feedback (CBAF) through the collaborative efforts of its participants."

Formative Assessment in Science Teaching
This FDTL4 project examined how students' formative assessment experiences affect their learning and looked at how feedback to students can be made more effective.