Selecting Online Alternatives to Common Assessment Methods

Insight

While some assessment components do not need significant adjustment in the move to online (including at-distance) learning, others require some additional thought and may need to be replaced/significantly adjusted. In support of the move to online/remote assessment in March 2020, this resource provides some indication of the kind of modifications that could be made for these common assessments. It is not an exhaustive list, but we hope it may be helpful in considering some of the available options.

10 Points to Consider in Choosing Alternative Assessment Methods for the Online Environment

Insight

Students can learn through many different but equitable assessment methods. An alternative online assessment is not a lesser form of assessment, but a different assessment to achieve the same aim. Some of the ideas in this Insight are worth considering in the design of alternative assessment methods for the online environment to ensure the quality and equity of the assessment. Developed to support the Irish higher education community in the initial weeks of the move to online/remote teaching and learning in March 2020.

Let’s Talk About Assessment: Exploring QQI’s Green Paper on Assessment in Higher Education

Insight

On Monday 12 November 2018, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education jointly hosted an event bringing together representatives from the higher education and training sector to discuss the assessment of learners and learning. This insight shares some key themes arising from discussion during that assessment event.

Staff Use of Technology-Enhanced Assessment in Higher Education: A Systematic Review

Insight

This Forum Insight summarises a systematic review of literature, exploring 65 peer-reviewed publications in the area of technology-enhanced assessment, with a particular focus on staff experiences of various related approaches. The study was funded by the National Forum, in partnership with the Irish Research Council, and was conducted by researchers at Trinity College Dublin.

Enabling Policies to Support Assessment OF/FOR/AS Learning in Irish Higher Education

Insight

The National Forum’s 2016-18 Enhancement Theme focused on Assessment OF/FOR/AS Learning in Irish higher education. In addition, a recent National Forum project focused on Enabling Policies for Digital Teaching and Learning (National Forum, 2018a). This Forum Insight draws on the findings from these two National Forum projects, to inform and encourage discussion around assessment policies in Irish higher education.

Enhancing Programme Approaches to Assessment and Feedback in Irish Higher Education: Case Studies, Commentaries and Tools

Resource

This resource contains case studies, commentaries and tools supporting the enhancement of assessment and feedback in Irish higher education programmes. The collection showcases the contribution of 31 staff and two students, from 14 national and five international institutions. The topics explored in this collection highlight the complexity of programme approaches to assessment and feedback, in particular:

– the drivers of programme assessment change
– leading change to programme assessment
– exploring the evidence for what’s going on in programme(s) and
– ideas to enhance changes in programme(s) assessment.

The collection should be valuable to a range of stakeholders in higher education, i.e. academic staff, senior administrators, programme teams, students, quality assurance officers, education developers/technologists, assessment unit staff, etc.

Authentic Assessment in Irish Higher Education

Insight

This insight summarises the outcomes of a National Forum workshop on authentic assessment attended by representatives of disciplines and networks from across the country. It explains the rationale for authentic assessment and presents some characteristics of this assessment approach. Presenting authentic assessment as residing on a continuum of authenticity, this Insight elaborates on some examples of assessment tasks with varying levels of authenticity.