EDUC 224 : Assessment and Evaluation in Education

Education and Social Work

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An examination of the theoretical and practical dimensions of designing, administering, and interpreting curriculum-aligned assessment and evaluation practices and policy including an introduction to valid and reliable data collection and interpretation practices. Recent New Zealand assessment policy and practice will also be analysed.

Course Overview

This course provides an overview of the nature, purpose, and techniques of educational assessment in both formative and summative contexts. The course will ground students in the principles of quality assurance in assessment (i.e., reliability and validity) and how those principles inform assessment practices such as test design, scoring, grading, feedback, and reporting. A strong emphasis is put on assessment as a tool for informing instruction and learning, while exposing the challenges involved in using assessment to evaluate learners, teachers, schools, and curriculum. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: Any 60 points passed Restriction: EDUC 225

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Be able to collect and interpret norm-referenced information provided by standardised tests (Capability 1)
  2. Be able to construct straightforward formal assessments, with defensible scoring rubrics, that provide valid information for specified purposes (Capability 2 and 3)
  3. Critically evaluate perspectives of assessment. (Capability 2)
  4. Understand and implement recommended methods of recording and reporting assessment information (Capability 1)
  5. Communicate assessment results to test-takers in a constructive and respectful manner. (Capability 4)
  6. Collaborate with peers to constructively critique and improve assessment practices (Capability 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework: Weekly Quiz 10% Individual Coursework
Assignment 1 WRAT 20% Individual Coursework
Assignment 2 asTTle 30% Individual Coursework
Discussions PeerWise 10% Peer Coursework
Assignment 3 Critical Evaluation of Perspectives on Assessment 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Coursework: Weekly Quiz
Assignment 1 WRAT
Assignment 2 asTTle
Discussions PeerWise
Assignment 3 Critical Evaluation of Perspectives on Assessment
To be eligible for a pass, students must achieve an overall course mark of at least 50%.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. On average, students are expected to spend 10 hours per week in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

A typical semester including the study/exam period totals approximately 15 weeks. This means that for this course you should expect to commit 36 hours to direct contact via on-campus lectures and tutorials.

You can also reasonably expect to commit approximately 100-120 hours to independent learning. This will include reading (and more reading), note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, engaging in collaborative group or pair work, problem solving, undertaking practical tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment, test and exam preparation and completion.

Attendance and engagement with course activities in lecture and tutorials supports academic success. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students make every effort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements.  

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is not required for the weekly quizzes.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

 The course has a required text, which is required for the weekly quizzes, to create MCQ questions for the PeerWise discussions, and to prepare a test for Assignment 3. The text is:
Brown, G. T. L., Irving, S. E., & Keegan, P. J. (2014). An introduction to educational assessment, measurement, and evaluation: Improving the quality of teacher-based assessment (3rd ed.). Auckland, NZ: Dunmore Publishing. ISBN: 9781927212097
Library: https://catalogue.library.auckland.ac.nz/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=uoa_alma21125960700002091&search_scope=Combined_Local&tab=books&vid=NEWUI&context=L

If you want a digital copy, you can buy a PDF from the publisher. Go to:
https://www.dunmore.co.nz/p/education-an-introduction-to-educational-assessment-measurement-and-evaluation-improving-the-quality-of-teacher-based-assessment-3rd-edition?barcode=9781927212097

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Coherent with the principles of 'flipped' learning, weekly quizzes will be maintained to ensure students came prepared to each lecture able to ask questions.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 24/01/2024 02:47 p.m.