Themes for ATN Assessment 2010
The overall conference theme of assessment sustainability, diversity and innovation is an opportunity to explore research and scholarly practice in designing, implementing and supporting innovative and enduring assessment for students and teachers in higher education institutions.
The four strands of this central theme are:
- Assessment for sustainable learning within and beyond the course
- Sustainable assessment practices and standards
- Innovative assessment: opportunities and challenges
- Diversity and assessment: diverse students and diverse assessment practices.
More about the conference themes
The conference theme encompasses four strands. All submissions and sessions will address one or more of the following:
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Assessment for sustainable learning within and beyond the course
This theme focuses on developing assessment approaches and practices that have the potential to develop students' learning throughout their program of study and into their lives and careers beyond graduation. This theme may include submissions related to formative feedback; self and peer assessment; assessment of work-integrated learning; industry and community based or professional practice placements; assessment of individual and team contributions; and other approaches that develop student judgment about their work in ways that may have application beyond their success in an individual subject. -
Sustainable assessment practices and standards
This aspect investigates approaches to assessment which are sustainable within the new higher education policy and funding environment. Contributions may include approaches to moderation; validation and quality in assessment; the interplay between professional bodies and academics in developing disciplinary standards; maintaining quality with large classes and many assessors; and approaches to providing feedback in a timely fashion with large classes (for example, formative, summative, learner to learner, self, learner to teacher, teacher to learner, employer to learner, formal, informal assessments). This theme also accommodates submissions related to assessment and academic standards, including the development of standards, implementation issues and potential implications of different approaches to academic standards for assessment within higher education courses. -
Innovative assessment: Opportunities and challenges
This facet explores innovative approaches to assessment and may include contributions which specifically address the successes of innovative assessment approaches and also the challenges of introducing an assessment innovation. Contributions may relate to the use of technology in assessment; student and academic engagement with innovative assessment approaches; and professional development issues associated with assessment innovation, including scaling an assessment innovation from pilot to large scale implementation. Contributions may relate (but are not limited) to authentic assessments; subject and program based e-portfolios; assessment of creativity including in non-traditionally creative disciplines; interdisciplinary assessment; assessment of graduate attributes and of ethical awareness; assessment in blended learning environments, simulations and Web2:0. This theme encourages contributions relating to both successful assessment innovations, and those that have faced significant challenges. -
Diversity and assessment: diverse students and diverse assessment practices
This theme provides opportunities for the exploration of assessment issues related to both the increasing diversity of student cohorts, and diverse assessment practices. This theme may include contributions related to assessment of students within culturally diverse classes; groupwork assessment; assessment of English communication skills within disciplines, assessment practices within the first-year, including scaffolding of assignments, and assessment issues related to inclusivity policies. It may also include diverse disciplinary practices in assessment or adaptations of practices from one discipline to another.
