Apologies for cross postings
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THE 4th NORTHUMBRIA ASSESSMENT CONFERENCE

Wed 1st - Friday, 3rd September, 1999

University of Northumbria
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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This is a call for papers for the 4th Northumbria Assessment
Conference, an international conference hosted by the University of
Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The focus of the conference is
on assessment for student learning in universities and colleges. We
particularly wish to encourage the exchange of perspectives on current
issues in assessment contributed by delegates from a range of
countries.

Seminar and workshop contributions are invited from those who wish to
report on research, development and innovation in assessment, review
assessment practices or offer  issue or problem-focused sessions. All
sessions will be 50 minutes in length.

The title of this year’s conference is:

ASSESSMENT FOR THE LEARNING SOCIETY

In a Learning Society:
· information and knowledge are at the heart of social and economic
processes. · citizens need to be able to continue to learn and adapt
throughout their lives. · citizens need to be able to evaluate,
synthesise and create rather than simply reproduce conventional ways
of doing things. · information and communication technologies have a
huge impact on access to information, learning opportunities and the
development of knowledge.

Higher Education is already responding to this new context by offering
wider access to education through means such as distance learning, and
the use of ICT’s; by providing opportunities for continuing learning
and professional development; and by employing new curriculum
approaches, such as problem-based learning, designed to develop the
qualities needed in the Learning Society.

In the conference we will address the questions of whether our
assessment approaches are keeping pace. When we assess student
learning are we assessing the right kinds of qualities and
capabilities? Is our assessment congruent with new curricula
approaches? Are we fostering continuing learning and independent
learning? Do we acknowledge the changes brought about by Information
and Communication Technologies? Are we making a shift from a testing
culture to a genuine assessment culture?


Themes to be addressed are as follows:

· Promotion of a learning society
Assessment to promote the right kinds of learning; the use of
assessment to ensure that learners acquire and achieve standards of
knowledge and competence; assessment to transmit appropriate norms and
values.

· The use of assessment to promote lifelong learning skills
Critical and creative thinking; information handling; self-evaluation;
self-direction; interpersonal skills.

· Assessment as a means of opening up access to learning
APEL (accreditation of prior learning); “just in time” assessment;
equitable assessment.

· Assessment suited to new forms of curricula for life-long learning
Examples include: Problem-based learning; reflective practice;
learning using Information and Communication Technologies.

Other topics relevant to the themes of the conference are welcome.

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If you would like to make a proposal please provide the following
information.

1.       Type of session either:

Seminar 	 presentation of paper and discussion.
Workshop 	 session involving delegate activity.

2. 	Outline description of up to 150 words.

3. 	Special facilities required (overhead projector, flip chart and
white board will be available).

4.       Name
 	Address
	elephone and fax numbers
	E-mail address.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS IS MONDAY, 29TH MARCH, 1999.

We will let you know if we are able to include your contribution at
the beginning of May, 1999. If you need to know before this date,
please let us know.

Send your proposal by email, fax or by surface mail

E mail [log in to unmask]

Fax/Tel +0191-227-4181

Post to:

Conference Administrator, 
Centre for Advances in Higher Education,
Coach Lane Campus, 
University of Northumbria,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE7 7XA
UK


MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

This is the 4th international conference with a focus on assessment of
student learning in universities and colleges. Previous conferences
have attracted delegates from places such as Europe, Canada, America,
South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. A mixture of keynote
presentations, seminars and workshops will be of interest to academics
in a variety of disciplines, those who manage assessment at
departmental or institutional level and educational researchers. The
conference will foster exchange of perspectives on current issues in
assessment contributed by delegates from a range of countries.

This year we will, once again, be offering an additional add-on
workshop day where delegates can undertake practical activities and
share experience to help them to develop and innovate in their
assessment practice. The workshop will be facilitated by Professor 
Phil Race.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Professor David Boud, Faculty of Education, University of Technology,
Sydney Professor Freda Tallantyre, University of Derby (and one other
to be confirmed - ideally a European perspective)

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Further details of the conference can be obtained by contacting:

Conference Administrator   E mail  [log in to unmask]

or by contacting:
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]

Alternatively, details can be found at 
http://hswe.unn.ac.uk/4thConf.htm



Gwen Marples
Centre for Advances in Higher Education (CAHE)
University of Northumbria





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