Assessment
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Gauges progress and performance through evaluating understanding, knowledge, and skills
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Provides insights into academic development, aiding the learning process for both the student and institution
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Encompasses an ever-widening range of activities and methods, in recognition of the broad range of students' learning styles
- Informs the teaching process, assists with refining teaching methods and adapting delivery strategies to meet the diverse needs of students, employers and wider society
Feedback
- Feedback is the enabler between assessment and improvement
- It involves communicating constructive information to students about their performance - highlighting their strengths and identifying areas for development
- Effective feedback should be a two-way dialogue between educators and students: fostering engagement, providing motivation and a sense of ownership over the learning process
How Feedback and Assessment Can Enhance Teaching Practice
A few years ago, it might have been argued by your average HE educator, that the primary purpose of assessment is to gauge a student's progress and performance, providing both the institution and the learner with valuable insights into their academic development but assessment is now recognised as an important tool in the learning process itself - that conceptualisation is broadly captured in the terms ‘formative’ and ‘summative’ assessment.
Assessment and feedback isn’t just about grading and evaluating students: they are both essential elements in a larger pedagogical framework. They provide a means of fostering a culture of learning, personal growth, and academic excellence - but students are not the only learners. Societal changes, to which the HE sector is not immune, mean that the way academics think about their teaching, as well as students' expectations and the perception of their university experience are ever-changing.
How CELT Can Support You
There are times when academics find themselves experimenting with enhancing assessment and feedback methods, and there is a range of excellent practice going on in all Schools. CELT coordinate different approaches across Bangor University and tap into good practice and our own expertise to deliver training sessions. You can view details of upcoming events on our CELT CPD Workshops page.
If you are planning enhancements to your feedback and assessments, or have had success in this area, we want to hear from you - your case studies could help us develop future training and the sharing of good practice across Bangor University. Whether you want to run a training session, share your experiences or alternatively require advice in this area, contact Dr Dei Huws.
Functions Served By Feedback And Assessment
At a first-order level, assessment and feedback both contribute to the growth and development of students - providing opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills, helping them to consolidate their understanding and, ideally, promoting deeper learning. The ensuing feedback is critical in guiding students toward further exploration and self-improvement.
Assessment (and the associated Regulations and Codes of Practice) represents a cornerstone of Quality Assurance. It ensures that we maintain rigorous academic standards and that students are held to a consistent and objective set of criteria. In this regard, consistency about all aspects of assessment and feedback, across modules and programmes is critical.
Well-designed assessment and constructive feedback motivate students to strive for their best. Recognising achievements and providing guidance on how to overcome challenges nurtures a positive learning environment. When students feel that their efforts are acknowledged and supported, they are more likely to stay engaged in their studies.
Assessment and feedback can be adapted to cater for diverse learning styles, ensuring that every student has an equitable opportunity to learn. By employing a variety of assessment methods and considering different feedback mechanisms, educators can accommodate the individual needs of our students.
Assessment data can be invaluable in order to refine our teaching methods and curriculum. By analysing the volume, distribution, spread and results of assessment types, and of feedback, we can make informed decisions to enhance our programmes and the student experience.
Effective assessment and feedback can be designed to mirror the challenges that students will face in their professional and societal lives. They help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are essential if our graduates are to succeed in the workplace and to meaningfully contribute to wider society.