Transcript Slide 1

Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong
Learning Sector
Assessment for Lifelong Learning
(Units 5, 18, 12 )
Aim:
• To identify the theories and principles of assessment and
enable utilisation of assessment practice at appropriate
stages/intervals using a variety of methods.
Objectives:
By the end of this module, delegates will be able to:
• Identify the types and methods of assessment commonly used in lifelong
learning
• Conduct and record assessments in line with internal and external
processes and communicate assessment information to other professionals
involved in the assessment process.
• Identify theories, principles and application of assessment to their own
teaching practice.
• Recognise the need to set learner’s individual learning goals using inclusive
learning and teaching approaches in line with internal and external
processes.
Objectives continued:
By the end of the module, delegates will be able to:
• Evaluate ways to improve own practice.
• Review the effectiveness of own assessment practice in meeting the needs
of learners.
Key points when judging assessment evidence:
• Do I understand the Marking Criteria/ Assessment Outcomes/ Assessment
Criteria?
• Have I taken account of standardisation / moderation requirements?
• Does the criteria enable my assessment to be objective, e.g. are they
SMART?
• Are the evidence requirements met, e.g. as specified in the qualification
guidance document(s)?
• Do I know who to ask, or where to look, if I am unsure about my judgement
or the evidence presented?
• Is the evidence Valid, Authentic, Reliable, Current and Sufficient (VARCS)?
• Am I able to make a sound judgement that I can substantiate and that will
allow me to provide constructive feedback to the learner?
• Have I completed all the required assessment documentation accurately?
• Have I informed others involved in the assessment process?
Exercise:
Assessment feedback Activity:
Spend 10 minutes thinking about and making notes, for discussion with the
whole group, about what factors to take account of when considering the
“feedback” part of the assessment cycle. You should remember, this relates to
the assessment strategy that has been designed for a course/programme.
Clue: Think beyond physically giving feedback to a learner. Also think about
what, when and how in terms of the assessment strategy, i.e. the feedback
strategy.
Key points when considering feedback:
• It must follow a prescribed / predetermined strategy that dove-tails to the
assessment strategy.
• It must occur at predetermined intervals, e.g. at half-termly tutorials,
monthly, within time specified for external exam results, etc.
• You should specify how feedback will be given, e.g. verbal, written or both
• Written feedback must be on approved documentation (sometimes
prescribed by external bodies)
• Will it be individual or group?
All feedback must be objective, constructive and inform an action plan, e.g.
assessment plan, ILP, etc.
Review of Progress:
Key points:
Must form part of the assessment strategy and should review performance of
the Course, Tutor and Learner.
Must take account of:
 Assessment results
 Learner feedback / surveys
 Success, achievement and retention (SAR)
 EQA requirements and feedback
 Lesson observations
 Benchmarking
 Historic data
Progress reviews should inform:
Programme/course design, SOW, Lesson Plans, Tutor’s PDP, Validity &
reliability of assessment methods used and course viability
Exercise: Assessment Methods
In groups, spend 10 minutes listing as many methods of assessment as you can
think of and their use, e.g. multiple choice, essay/test. (Write your suggestions
on flip-chart)
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Short answers
Essays
Multiple Choice
Practical work or Workshop
Tasks in the field
Project reports
Diverse evidence (witness statements, Audio, Video)
Reports of visits or industrial training
Verbal reports of interview
Group activity assessment
Workplace observations or work experience tasks
Quizzes
Progress charts (self assessment)
Assessment Methods:
In groups, complete the exercise below before discussing as a whole
Group:
a) Which of the methods discussed previously are suitable for
Peer and/or Self Assessment - why?
b) Why are Peer and Self Assessment important for evaluating
Learning?
Assessment Methods:
Assessment through questioning - the two types are?
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Verbal
Written
How many types of questions are there?
Four main types
They are:
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Closed or Open
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Diagnostic
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Comparative
Assessment Methods:
Closed questions:
A closed question can be answered with either a single word or a short
phrase, “yes” or “No”
Closed questions have the following characteristics:
• They give you facts.
• They are easy to answer.
• They are quick to answer.
• They keep control of the conversation with the questioner.
Can you suggest some uses and examples when assessing learning?
Assessment Methods:
Open questions:
The aim of an open question is to illicit information - a long answer
Open questions have the following characteristics:
• They ask the respondent to think and reflect.
• They will give you opinions and feelings.
• They hand control of the conversation to the respondent.
Can you suggest some uses and examples when assessing learning?
Assessment Methods:
Diagnostic questions:
The aim of a diagnostic question is gain more explicit and targeted
information – e.g. about the nature of the issues and problems.
Diagnostic questions have the following characteristics:
• They tend to probe in more depth into respondents earlier
answers
• They often begin with “What”, “Why”, or How”.
• They require more in-depth thought and analysis and/or a
sharing of opinion from the respondent.
• Diagnostic questions will often reveal information about the
respondent’s own feelings and values
Can you suggest some uses and examples when assessing learning?
Assessment Methods:
Comparative questions:
The aim of a comparative question is to test the respondent’s
understanding of concepts and ideas.
Comparative questions have the following characteristics:
• Questions are usually phrased as directed comparisons, e.g:
“Is brown bread more nutritious white bread?”.
“How would you compare teaching children to adults?”
• The question may be a follow-on from information given by the
respondent to an earlier open question, e.g:
“You mentioned you now drive a diesel car. As diesel fuel is
often 10p more per litre than petrol, how does this enable more
economic motoring?”
Can you suggest some uses and examples when assessing learning?
Terms of Assessment:
Activity:
In groups spend 10 minutes discussing what you think the
terms mean, make notes and be prepared to feedback to the
whole group with examples.
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Formal
Profiling
Informal
Criterion-referenced
Subjective
Norm-referenced
Objective
Continuous
Competency-based
Terms of Assessment:
Term used:
Formal
• Learner performs under
strict test conditions
• Could be examination
• Usually leads to
certification
Informal
• Feedback given regularly
to allow student to
assess progress
• Q & A sessions
• Class assignments or
tests
Terms of Assessment:
Term used:
Subjective
Objective
• No one set answer
• Value judgement by marker
• Easy to set, difficult to
mark
• e.g. essays, practical & oral
tests
• Only one correct answer
• All markers would arrive at
the same outcome
• Difficult to devise, easy to
mark
• e.g. multi-choice,
true/false, completion,
matching items, etc.
Terms of Assessment:
Term used:
Formative
Summative
• Ongoing – during course i.e.
modifications can be
implemented
• Designed to improve
teaching & learning &
identify learning difficulties
• More likely to be informal
assessments
• At the end of the course
• Determines overall
effectiveness of outcomes
• Often leads to formal
qualifications
• Tests criteria of exam
syllabus or competency
based qualifications
Terms of Assessment:
CONTINUOUS
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Ongoing throughout the course
May contribute to grade of final assessment
Encourages student motivation
Short term goals can be achieved
Some students do not perform well in formal examinations
e.g. NVQs, GCSE (currently!), AS, Masters Degrees, etc.
Terms of Assessment:
COMPETENCY BASED
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Competency judged against Assessment Criteria, or PC’s
Observation checklist often forms part of assessment
Used in the workplace, vocational qualifications
Mastery fits this model, i.e. credit what you can do
No pass/fail, no examinations e.g. NVQ’s
Terms of Assessment:
CRITERION REFERENCED
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Compares performance against set criteria
No limit to number of attempts
If standards met, then learner passes
No limit to numbers achieving the qualification
e.g. Driving Test, NVQ’s, etc
Terms of Assessment:
NORM REFERENCED
Refers to standardised tests that are designed to compare and
rank test takers in relation to one another – normal curve of
distribution.
Norm-referenced tests report whether test takers performed
better or worse than a hypothetical average student, which is
determined by comparing scores against the performance
results of statistically selected group of test takers, typically of
the same age or grade level, who have already taken the exam.
e.g. SAT exams, IQ tests, some GCSEs (probably all in future!).
Terms of Assessment:
NORM REFERENCED
Terms of Assessment:
PROFILING
A document that can record assessment of learners across a
wide range of abilities, including skills, attitudes, personal
achievement.
Linked with PC’s, Range, K&U, etc.
Standardisation / Moderation of
Assessment Decisions
(1) What is Standardisation / Moderation?
(1) What’s the difference between them?
(1) What is the purpose of Standardisation / Moderation?
(2) Who is involved?
(2) How are they involved / what do they do?
(2) When are they involved?
(1 & 2) EQA and IQA – discuss ………….. (inc. assessment sampling)