EDUC 6553NA - Assessment and Evaluation in Education

Ngee Ann Academy - Quadmester 3 - 2015

Assessment and evaluation are key directors of education, and are pivotal to learning and teaching. Assessment is the process of making a judgement or measurement of worth of an entity, example person or process. Evaluation in education involves gathering and evaluating data evolving from planned learning activities, delivery of instructions and/or programs. This course examines the purposes, paradigms and types of assessment and evaluation used in education, and in particular the innovations associated with them. Their roles in directing learning, provision of feedback to students, feedback strategies to enhance the delivery of instructions and curriculum evaluation, and ensuring standards are achieved are explored. Emerging alternative assessment and reporting processes and the underlying philosophies of selected curricula models/frameworks are highlighted. Specifically, the roles of learners/students, teachers/educators, curriculum designers and administrators/policy makers in assessment and evaluation are discussed.

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Course Details

Course Code	EDUC 6553NA
Course	Assessment and Evaluation in Education
Coordinating Unit	School of Education
Term	Quadmester 3
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	Ngee Ann Academy
Units	3
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Restrictions	M Ed students only - Singapore
Assessment	Group work activity (20%), contextualisation of group work (20%), assessment design and response to feedback (50%), contribution to discussion boards (10%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Igusti Darmawan

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

The course introduces broad concepts, theories and practices in assessment and evaluation in education (and human sciences). The course provides theoretical, collaborative-dialogue and hands-on sessions, and to achieve the following objectives and outcomes:

1. Be able to understand and appreciate the roles of (and terminologies in) assessment and evaluation in education (and human sciences);

2. Evaluate and critique the types of assessment and its importance in learning;

3. Design assessment appropriate to a variety of learning contexts, and the pertinence of utility issues (validity, reliability, bias, bandwidth and fidelity);

4. Utilise the various forms of assessment in learning contexts, and evaluate the appropriateness of rubrics, standards, benchmarks and cut-off scores;

5. Understand and apply the forms of feedback, diagnostics, remediation, extension and reporting;

6. Understand and evaluate current international literature and reports on assessment and evaluation, and its applications for unit/school/institution/organisation;

7. Develop and propose evaluation (and associated research) for enhancing learning, teaching, curriculum, performance and support;

8. Report on emerging assessment and evaluation processes for/in/of learning and through the use of information and communication technologies; and

9. Understand the developments in adaptive learning and assessment systems, and fundamentals of test-theories and psychometrics.

Learning Outcomes:
Students are able to
(1) understand and explain the fundamental concepts of assessment and evaluation principles;
(2) differentiate between assessment and evaluation in education;
(3) design and construct assessments;
(4) present the various forms or assessment types and how cognitive development can be measured and tracked through assessments;
(5) utilise the key concepts in assessment to analyse and critique assessment and evaluation reports;
(6) apply understanding of assessment and evaluation principles in evaluating individual, group and institution performance.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2, 3, 4, 7, 8
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	2, 3, 6, 8, 9
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	2, 4, 7, 8
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	3, 8, 9
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1, 3, 5, 6, 9
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	2, 4, 5, 6, 9
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	4, 6, 8

Learning Resources

Required Resources

1 Masters, G.N. (2013). Reforming Educational Assessment: Imperatives, principles and challenges. Australian Education Review. Camberwell, Victoria: ACER.

2 Postlethwaite, T.N., & Kellaghan, T. (2008). National assessments of educational achievement. The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) Report. Paris, France: UNESCO.

3 UNESCO (2013). World Education Forum: Assessing learning achievement. Asia-Pacific Education System Review Series No. 5. Bangkok: UNESCO.

4 OECD (2013). Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: Synergies for Better Learning – An International Perspective on Evaluation and Assessment. Paris, France: OECD.

5 OECD (2011). Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: AUSTRALIA. Paris, France: OECD.

6 Porter, A.C., & Smithson, J.L. (2001). Defining, Developing, and Using Curriculum Indicators. CPRE Research Report Series RR-048. Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.

7 DEP. (2009). Designing Education Projects: A Comprehensive Approach to Needs Assessment, Project Planning and Implementation, and Evaluation. (2nd Ed.). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

8 Popham, J.W. (2006). Assessment for Leaders. Boston: Pearson.

9 Braun, H., Kanjee, A., Bettinger, E., & Kremer, M. (2006). Improving Education through Assessment, Innovation, and Evaluation. Cambridge, MA: American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

10 The Gordon Commission Final Report : To Assess, To Teach, To Learn: A Vision for the Future of Assessment. (2013).Princeton, NJ: The Gordon Commission.

Recommended Resources

1 Please see reading/assignment list.

2 Koretz, D. (2008). Measuring up: What educational testing really tells us. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

3 Farley, T. (2009). Making the Grades: My misadventures in the standardised testing industry. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

4 Meyer, J.H.F., & Land, R. (2006). Overcoming barriers to student understanding: Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge. (Eds.). NY: Routledge / Tayloy & Francis Group.

5 Tuijnman, A.C., & Postlethwaite, T.N. (1994). Monitoring the standards of education. NY: Pergamon.

6 Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: How America’s commitment to equity will determine our future. NY: Teachers College, Columbia University.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

No information currently available.

Workload

No information currently available.

Learning Activities Summary

No information currently available.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

No information currently available.

Assessment Detail

No information currently available.

Submission

No information currently available.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator