Learning and Teaching Centre

Students reading outsideAssessment & Feedback

Background

The University has identified the development and implementation of a policy framework to guide assessment and feedback practice within the University as a priority. As a result, the Learning and Teaching Committee has established an Assessment and feedback Working Party to assist the Committee, and thus Academic Senate and the Provost, to develop such a framework.

The Working Party comprises a number of members of the Learning and Teaching Committee, including its Chair, members of the Learning and Teaching Centre, members of University's Carrick funded Leadership and Assessment Project and members of each faculty.

The questions that the Working Party need to answer are:

  • What are the perceived needs for change in assessment and feedback practice and policies held by the various stakeholders (students, staff, leadership and management, senior admin, and professional disciplinary bodies)?
  • What goals/targets need to be established to achieve these changes and what change management strategies are needed?
  • What values and philosophies should underpin policy?
  • What QE/QA and moderation processes and systems are required?
  • What recognition and reward systems are currently available and needed?

The outcomes of the working party will include:

  • Agreement, shared understanding and commitment at all levels and across the institution in relation to the espoused values, philosophy and code of assessment practice that is developed
  • A cohesive policy underpinned by evidence, and a philosophy or values that is clearly linked to learning teaching and curriculum design generally, as well as to institutional targets in relation to student experience, engagement, learning and graduate outcomes.
  • Code of practice and an explicit statement of rights and responsibilities of students, academic staff and the institution in relation to ethical assessment and feedback practices
  • Targets for short and long term strategic change
  • On-going QA / QE and moderation processes
  • Induction and support for staff that is educative, developmental and non-punitive.
  • Systems of recognition and reward for staff who do engage and changes in practice that goes beyond the individual perspective.

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Aims

The aims of the working party are to:

  • Raise awareness of the importance of enhanced assessment and feedback literacy amongst change agents for adopting an institutional-wide systems approach and to establish an accepted set of targets for achieving greater efficiency, effectiveness and educational integrity in the practice of assessment and feedback of student learning outcomes.
  • Identify the institutional values, principles and rights and responsibilities to underpin enhanced assessment and feedback practice
  • Develop draft policy framework and guidelines for supporting a MU approach to assessment and feedback of student learning
  • Identify and develop information and exemplar resources to support strategic projects designed to enhance assessment and feedback literacy and practice.

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Milestones

Date Milestones

April '08

Enhanced understanding of the following:

  • Enhanced assessment & feedback literacy
  • Recognition of the need for change in assessment practice
  • Agreement on values, principles, rights and responsibilities and on a MU code of assessment and feedback practice
  • Institution wide understanding and agreement as to the dimensions of a MU assessment and feedback policy
  • Pilot project identification to achieve change targets representative of the new faculties
  • Projects commenced (in synergy with the Carrick Leadership and Assessment project)
  • Provision of evidence-based best practice resources on website

Sept '08
  • Staff development conducted on assessment and feedback
  • Ratification of assessment and feedback guidelines and procedures
  • Ratification and implementation of assessment and feedback policy
  • Completion of 6 funded leadership and assessment projects
  • Addition of university generated best practice resources to assessment and feedback website

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The Working Party

  • Dr Marina Harvey, LTC
  • Prof Stephen Marsall, LTC
  • Ms Margot McNeill, LTC
  • A/Prof Pamela Coutts, ACES
  • A/Prof John Shepherd, EFS
  • Dr Robyn Beirman, ELS
  • Dr Subra Vemulpad, ELS
  • Dr Marcell Freiman, Humanities
  • A/Prof Marnie Hughes-Warrington, Humanities
  • Mr Michael Barnes, ICS
  • Dr Steve Cassidy, ICS
  • Dr Michael Hitchens, ICS
  • Ms Penelope Watson, Law
  • Dr Kristina Everett, SCMP
  • Mr Phil Betts, Postgraduate Representative
  • Ms Julia Holland, Undergraduate Representative
  • Dr Julian De Meyrick, Dean of Students
  • Ms Bronwyn Kosman, Office of the Provost

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Contact

For further information, please contact:

Dr Marina Harvey
Project Leader
Email: marina.harvey@mq.edu.au
Tel: 02 9850 9779

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