This event focuses on formative assessment in general rather than specifically eassessment, but will be of interest to many on this list...
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From: Improving Student Learning [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dr M Haynes [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 03 December 2008 09:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: conference on formative assessment
Middlesex University announces its the winter conference on Formative
Assessment on Friday 12 December from 9.30 - 3.30.
To be held at
Holbourn Union Building
Middlesex University
Archway Campus
Highgate Hill
London N19 3UA
To reserve a place please contact Karen Ridout (020 8411 5018
[log in to unmask]). The fee will be £50 which will include lunch and all
refreshments.
There will be two keynote speakers who will also facilitate workshops during
the day. Other workshops will be facilitated by Middlesex colleagues. A plan of
the day is included at the end of this email.
The speakers are Professor Margaret Price, Director Assessment Standards
Knowledge Exchange, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Business
School, Oxford Brookes University and Professor David Nicol, Deputy-Director
of the Centre for Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement at the
University of Strathclyde and Director of the REAP project.
Details of keynote lectures and guest workshops: -
Professor Margaret Price:
Keynote: Shaping assessment for the future Assessment is a central part of
the student learning experience yet its poor ratings in student satisfaction
surveys and 'under performance' in quality reviews confirms what research has
been saying for some time, that is, we 'must do better!' . This keynote will
consider how we should shape assessment in the future by recognising the
complexity of assessment in higher education, the nature of assessment
standards and the extent of student engagement with the assessment
process.
The starting point is purpose, what is assessment for? The multiple and
interdependent purposes of assessment are often at odds with each other and
choices need to be made about which purpose is the most important in which
circumstances to prevent mixed messages. Lack of clarity over purpose is
matched by uncertainty about assessment standards. Understanding of
assessment standards underpins many aspects of assessment and yet many
beliefs, myths and assumptions that underpin our, and our students,
understandings of assessment standards are flawed. This in turn has
repercussions for students' effectiveness as learners; marking consistency and
reliability, quality assurance. By examining the nature of assessment standards
and how we share our understandings of those standards between ourselves
and with students we can start to envision a more engaging and meaningful
environment for students. The presentation will include discussion of a
manifesto for change being championed by ASKe, Centre for Excellence in
Teaching and Learning.
Workshop: 'Examining your feedback processes - engaging or disengaging?'
Workshop will draw on research to consider why students do or don't engage
with their feedback. Participants will be encouraged to make an honest
evaluation of their approaches to providing feedback and draw up action plans
to make feedback more effective.
Professor David Nichol:
Keynote: Enhancing feedback to students in mass higher education
The National Student Survey shows that students are dissatisfied with
assessment and feedback more than with any other aspect of their course.
Teachers are, however, concerned that increasing the provision of high quality
feedback, particularly in large classes, will inevitably lead to increased
workload. In this presentation/workshop it will be argued that in mass higher
education, written feedback which is essentially a monologue is now trying to
carry the full burden of dialogue between the teacher and student. This is
distorting feedback mechanisms, increasing staff workload and pushing
students towards a passive approach to learning. To address this situation it
is argued that we must reintroduce dialogue in learning by rethinking the
sources, form and timing of feedback and the role of the student in these
processes. New technologies have the power to support an enhanced
feedback model where feedback is dialogical, shared, varied and ongoing.
In this presentation/workshop principles of effective feedback will be proposed
and examples of technology-supported practices outlined. The presentation
will draw on the findings of the Re-engineering Assessment Practices (REAP)
project, funded by the Scottish Funding Council under its e-Learning
Transformation initiative (see www.reap.ac.uk). REAP showed that learning
gains could be delivered without increases in staff time.
Workshop: From Principles to practice: Improving feedback in the disciplines.
This workshop will provide an opportunity for academic staff to think about
how they might apply the assessment and feedback principles to improve their
own practice.
To reserve a place please contact Karen Ridout (020 8411 5018
[log in to unmask]).
Programme:
9.30: Registration and coffee in Room 3a, A7, 3rd Floor, Holborn Union Building,
Archway Campus
10.00: Welcome
10.15: Keynote: Professor David Nichol, University of Strathclyde: Enhancing
Feedback to Students in Mass Higher Education
11.15: Coffee
11.45: Five parallel workshops running:
- Workshop 1: From principals to practice: improving feedback in the
disciplines: Professor David Nicols
- Workshop 2: Exploring the use of Personal Response Systems: Judy Wilson
and Paul Smith (CS)
- Workshop 3: Supporting the Development of Competence in Numeracy Skills
in Pre-Registration Nursing Programmes: Charmagne Barnes, Brian
Anthony and Marion Taylor (HSSC)
- Workshop 4: Examining your feedback processes - engaging or disengaging:
Professor Margaret Price
- Workshop 5: Three pedagogic innovations to improve learning on the BA
Music and Arts Management Programme: Chris Dromey, Christiana Yiangou and
Mario Anastasiades (A & E)
12.45: Lunch
1.45: Keynote: Professor Margaret Price, Oxford Brookes University: Shaping
Assessment for the Future
2.45: Plenary
3.00: Festive refreshments
A map of the campus location can be found at:
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/campus/campuses/archway/aw.asp
To reserve a place please contact Karen Ridout (020 8411 5018
[log in to unmask]).
Dr Michelle Haynes
Centre for Learning and Quality Enhancement
Middlesex University
[log in to unmask]
020 8411 6828
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