Overview

This module will explore the latest evidence and recommendations for effective assessment in higher education and schools. It will critically examine various aspects of assessment, such as inclusivity, authenticity, validity, fairness and reliability, and help students design formative and summative assessment strategies that suit their learning goals and contexts.

The module will also empower students to use assessment to enhance learning outcomes and foster self-regulated feedback literate learners. Additionally, it will allow students to apply and evaluate assessment strategies in their own professional settings and develop assessment and feedback literacy, as well as teacher assessment and feedback literacy.

The following is an indicative list and may include, but is not limited to the topics below:

• Contemporary research concerning best practice in assessment • Use of formative and summative feedback in improving performance • Feedback and Assessment Literacy and Teacher Feedback Literacy • Assessment and feedback in Higher Education • Assessment and feedback in schools • Prompt engineering for AI feedback and ethical use of AI • Authentic, valid and reliable assessment post generative AI • Peer and Self Assessment and fostering agentic learners • Design of effective Assessment and Feedback Practices

Assessment Strategy

20% of the course grade will be comprised of a annotated bibliography, and essay plan. Feedback will be provided on this that will feed into a first draft at 10%

70% of the course will be assessed via a final writing assignment, and a proportion of grade will include engagement with feedback, and reflective use of it to improve work, skills or knowledge as well as a reflection on the writing process and evidence of that process.

50-59%, Pass: Clear evidence of planning leading to a good structure, sound understanding of theories and analysis, and good use of research supported by appropriate evidence.

60-69%, Merit: Shows significant insight, offers sustained and relevant analysis, well researched and referenced and written with a clear structure and style.

70-84%, Distinction: Demonstrates excellence in power of analysis, argument, originality, range of research, organisation and stylistic quality.

85-100%, Distinction: Outstanding work which demonstrates exceptional scholarship and is worthy of publication, or instrumental in developing professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply knowledge in the field to develop authentic, valid, fair and reliable assessment practices that encourage feedback uptake, feedback literacy and reflectivity.

• Critically evaluate methods of assessment in terms of their contribution to learning in the context of higher education, schools and other educational settings.

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of best practice in assessment based on high-quality contemporary assessment research.

• Demonstrate ability to develop and evaluate inclusive assessment strategies to monitor and improve provision, feedback literacy and assessment literacy while improving teacher assessment and feedback literacy