Liverpool Hope Student’s Union
What is Assessment? Whilst we may not like having to do assessments They are an important part of University. They can serve a variety of purposes:
Summative Summative assessment evaluates a students’ progress up to a specific point in time and provides a summary (mark/grade) of where they are. This is the most common form of assessment, for example exams, class tests and essays.
Formative Provides an opportunity for improvement on the task or writing the same learning unit. The intention behind formative assessment is to promote student learning by giving feedback to progress towards achievement of specific learning outcomes. This type of assessment may not contribute to formal grades. It will be used for students to engage with their learning throughout the course. Examples are projects, poster presentations or essays.
Diagnostic Diagnostic assessment is a way for lecturers and tutors to gauge the knowledge and understanding of their class to help them adjust their teaching methods and content to suit the students. Examples are multiple choice questions or short class tests.
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For Students’ Individual pieces of assessment promote learning by providing feedback on performance and help students to identify their strengths and weaknesses
For Staff Assessment provides an opportunity to evaluate the knowledge, understanding, ability and skills attained by different students.
For the University Assessment provides information upon which decisions as to students’ progression and the receipt of awards may be based. The assessment procedure enables the University to ensure that appropriate standards are being met and information about assessment (such as mark or grade distributions) forms a valuable tool for quality assurance and improvement.
What is Feedback? Academic feedback is simply getting information on your performance and achievements in order for you to better understand your progress and capabilities. It also allows you to have the opportunity to be able to improve your performance in future academic work and become a motivated, active learner.
Feedback can relate to: • Your individual assignments • Group work • A draft that you have prepared • Your ideas about your subject
Good Feedback can: • Help you self-assess your work against assessment criteria • Help you to work out what you have done wrong in an assignment • Help you to improve your future assignments • Help you to understand your subject better • Help you to approach work in new modules • Cheer you up!
Types of Feedback Feedback is much more than getting a mark or grade. A ‘B’ beside your name won’t tell you what you got wrong, or how you can improve. Feedback comes in many different forms • Written or verbal comments about your work • Comments and suggestions made during class discussions • Comments made in online debates • Model Solutions
Feedback can come from different people • Module leaders • Seminar tutors • Lecturers • Fellow students
Principles of Assessment and Feedback for Learning Assessment & Feedback is a two-way process, between you and your lecturers. To make sure it is effective for students at Liverpool Hope University, the assessments that are set and the feedback that is given, by lecturers should adhere to the following principles:
Feedback 1. Encourage time and effort on task 2. Deliver timely and high quality feedback 3. Provide opportunities to act on feedback 4. Encourage positive motivational beliefs 5. Develop self-assessment and reflection 6. Encourage interaction and dialogue
Assessment 1. Well-designed assessments, clear criteria and assessment process 2. Good preparation of students 3. Variety of assessment methods.
Getting Ready for Feedback
Steps to get the Best out of your Feedback
Find out when and where you will be receiving your feedback, and who will be giving it. • Find out what sort of feedback you will be getting throughout a module: will it be written, verbal or online-combination of these. • Who will be giving the feedback and when you will receive it.
Understanding Feedback • Read/Listen, Feedback is only useful if you act on it!
• Feedback on your ideas and ways of approaching your assignments is likely to be given during class discussions. Be there to receive it!
• Think about how it relates to the assessment criteria. • If it is written feedback which is hard to read let your lecturer know - They may not realise their writing is illegible. • If you don’t understand your feedback - ask!!
Use your Feedback
Feedback should be a dialogue. Be prepared to ask your lecturer. You can’t use your feedback to improve if you don’t understand it!
• To think about what you have done well and what you can improve in your work. • To plan a subsequent piece of work. • To prepare work in other modules. Feedback given on one module is often relevant for another. • To develop your understanding of a subject and your own approach to learning.
More information If you feel you are not getting the appropriate feedback speak to your Course Rep so they can bring it up at your course meeting. If you want more advice on how to raise issues with Assessment & Feedback contact your SU Officer. Shauna Fivey (Vice President of Education) Email: vpresed@hope.ac.uk