Assessing Student Learning in Higher Education

Assessment defines what students regard as important, how they spend their time and how they come to see themselves; it is a necessary part of helping them to learn. This text provides background research on assessment which will assist lecturers in refreshing their approach to assessing student learning. It explores both conventional and less widely used approaches to assessment. Containing chapters on information technology, the role of external examiners and the introduction of different forms of assessment, and offering guidelines, suggestions, examples of practice and activities, this book will become a springboard for more active learning.

There is no doubt about the importance of assessment: it defines what students regard as important, how they spend their time and how they come to see themselves - it is a necessary part of helping them to learn.This text provides background research on different aspects of assessment. Its purpose is to help lecturers to refresh their approach to the assessment of student learning.It explores the nature of conventional assessment such as essays and projects, and also considersless widely used approaches such as self- and peer-assessment. There are also chapters devoted to the use of IT, the role of external examiners and the introduction of different forms of assessment.With guidelines, suggestions, examples of practice and activities, this book will become a springboard for action, discussion and even more active learning.

Chapter 1. Introduction to the Text, Chapter 2. What is Assessment?, Chapter 3. Student Learning, Chapter 4. Methods and Strategies: An Overview, Chapter 5. Assessing Essays, Chapter 6. Multiple Choice Questions, Chapter 7. Assessing Practical Work, Chapter 8. Assessing Projects, Chapter 9. Assessing Problems, Chapter 10. Assessing Oral Communication, Chapter 11. Self and Peer Assessment, Chapter 12. Self Assessment: Related Approaches, Chapter 13. Using Computers in Assessment, Chapter 14. Changing Assessment, Chapter 15. Reliability, Validity and Examining, Chapter 16. Quality, Standards and Underlying Issues, Bibliography Notes and comments on activities Some further reading Appendix One: Examples of examination questions in Arts, Law and Social Sciences