EDF5764 · Assessment in education

Overview

This unit extends your understandings of assessment and its significance for learning. It examines both the theory and practice of assessment in educational contexts and how it is deployed locally and globally to provide strategic direction. The unit details assessment as an ongoing process of evidence collection, interpretation and reflection to make informed and consistent judgements that positively impact learning. Throughout the unit, a spectrum of assessment approaches will be unpacked, from high stakes, big investment assessment through to everyday, in-the-moment strategies. The merits of different approaches will be explored with reference to their potential to impact learning. You will work with evidence-based assessment strategies and learn how to effectively deploy them to capture the diversity of learner starting points, set appropriate goals, provide formative feedback and establish outcomes of teaching on learning episodes. The unit will develop capacity to read, understand and interpret a range of data commonly found within educational settings. You will learn to pragmatically apply concepts of validity and reliability together with processes including moderation when selecting, adapting and or designing assessments that align with curriculum and pedagogy.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. draw on theory and evidence from practice to outline the significant role assessment plays in supporting learning
2. detail a range of assessment strategies, their strengths and weaknesses and their effective deployment to support learning as part of an ongoing process
3. accurately read, understand and interpret a range of data commonly found within educational settings
4. pragmatically account for validity and reliability when selecting, adapting and or designing assessments that align with curriculum and pedagogy
5. utilise your knowledge to critically evaluate and analyse research, literature and knowledge in the field, and demonstrate this through independent judgement.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: • 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study OR • 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^ ^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.