That is the Future for the Assessment of Learning through Final Examinations? Part 2

This National Forum webinar, open to the higher education community, will focus on assessment and specifically, alternatives to assessment of learning through final (terminal) examinations. It takes place from 12.30-13.30 on Friday 28 May.

For some time, research analysing assessment in higher education has raised questions about the effectiveness and reliability of traditional final exam-based assessment. The closure of campuses in light of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 led to immediate changes in formative and summative assessment practices in higher education in Ireland, with the cancellation of on-campus exams. Alternative assessment modes, most of which were online, were developed within a matter of weeks. This represented a sudden and critical challenge across the sector, but it has also opened the opportunity for us collectively to revisit the rationale for, and purposes of, final exam-based assessment in our programmes.

Building on the Part 1 on 06 May, in this webinar we continue a national conversation about the future for the assessment of learning through final examinations. In this webinar, we share a range of examples showcasing alternative assessments to exams. We will explore the theme of assessment for engagement, and hear perspectives from students and staff, senior managers and other stakeholders. We will consider the implications of continuing with final exams, and in particular online exams which require proctoring. The issues arising from the use of online proctoring will be identified and discussed, with experiences shared by staff and students who have experienced this mode of assessment. We consider assessment from the perspective of care, and how the educational landscape post-Covid -19 can effectively address some of the negative experiences of assessment online and offline. The conversations from Part 1 and Part 2 will inform a National Forum Insight later this year.

This webinar will be chaired by Dr Áine Ní Shé, Registrar & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Munster Technological University – Cork, and National Forum Board Member.

Speakers will be:

• Irene Hayden, Lecturer – Department of Building and Civil Engineering, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
• Dr Brendan O’Connell, Assistant Professor – School of English, Trinity College Dublin
• Dr Lisa Padden, Project Lead – University for All, UCD Access & Lifelong Learning
• Dr Fiona O’Riordan, Academic Developer, & Rob Lowney, Learning Technologist – Teaching Enhancement Unit, Dublin City University
• Dr Adrienne Fleming, Department of Science, School of Science and Computing, TU Dublin
• Student speaker to be confirmed

You can register for this webinar here.

This webinar is part of a National Webinar Series taking place throughout 2021. View details of the full Series here.