Unit 7 assessment in higher education
- 1. *HIGHER EDUCATION Course Code 828 Asima shahzadi asimashahzadi7@gmail.com
- 2. UNIT # 07 ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
- 3. Objectives of session After successful completion, students will be able to know about: • Critical issues in assessment • Recommend reforms to improve Examination system of Pakistan • The role of Teacher and Learner in Assessment • Types of entrance tests in Pakistan and guidelines
- 4. The Assessment • Educational assessment is the process of documenting, usually in measurable terms, knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs. • Assessment is a mechanism for providing instructors with data for improving their teaching methods and for guiding and motivating students to be actively involved in their own learning.
- 5. Reasons for Assessing • Selection • Certification • Describing • Aiding learning • Improving teaching
- 6. Modes of Assessment • There are three modes of assessment: • Diagnostic • Formative • Summative
- 7. Diagnostic Assessment • Intended to improve the learner’s experience and their level of achievement. • Diagnostic assessments are used to determine students’ level of knowledge, skills, and understandings at the beginning of a course, grade level, unit and/or lesson. • It is often used before teaching or when a problem arises.
- 8. Types of Diagnostic Assessment • Pre-tests on content and abilities in order to get an understanding about the students’ knowledge level. • Self-assessments which is conducted to identifying skills and competencies of the students. • Brief interviews which are conducted in order to get an idea about the problems of the students which they faced in the classroom)
- 9. Formative Assessment • Formative assessment provides feedback and information during the instructional process, while learning is taking place, and while learning is occurring. • Measures student progress but it can also assess instructor’s progress. • A primary focus of formative assessment is to identify areas that may need improvement. • These assessments typically are not graded and act as a gauge to students’ learning progress and to determine teaching effectiveness
- 10. Types of Formative Assessment • Observations • Homework exercises • Question and answer sessions • Conferences between the instructor and student sessions • In-class activities
- 11. Summative Assessment • Summative assessment takes place after the learning has been completed and provides information and feedback that sums up the teaching and learning process. • Rubrics, often developed around a set of standards or expectations, can be used for summative assessment. • Assess what has been learned and how well it was learned. • More product-oriented
- 12. Types of Summative Assessment • Examinations • Final examination • Term papers • Projects • Portfolios • Performances • Student evaluation of the course • Instructor self-evaluation
- 13. Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning • The assessment of student learning begins with educational values. • Assessment is most effective when it reflects an understanding of learning as multidimensional, integrated, and revealed in performance over time. • Assessment works best when the programs it seeks to improve have clear, explicitly stated purposes. • Assessment works best when it is ongoing not episodic. • Assessment fosters wider improvement
- 14. Examination System • Examination is both a subject of research and the basic data for research. • It is a vital part of the teaching, learning process, and educational development. • Efficacy of an education system, basically, depends upon the usefulness and effectiveness of its examination system. • Assess the competency of students’ learning for admission but also for employment.
- 15. Functions and Objectives of Examination (Policy,1992) • Provide a systematic evaluation system to judge to what extent the educational aims, goals and objectives have been achieved. • Evaluate the students’ academic achievement in the prescribed contents in a particular period of time. • Assess the students' educational development in respect of personality and character building. • Develop the students’ study habits, planned research work and competition. • Provide feedback to the institutions and to make decisions about reward and scholarships.
- 16. Policy Guidelines approved by HEC for semester system (2006) • Switch over for the semester system to attain harmony and uniformity. • Relevant professional training for staff related to semester system. • Choice of questions abolished from year 2007. • No Grace marks by the year 2007. • The question papers for assessment of students’ conceptual knowledge. • (MCQs) and Short Essay Questions (SEQs) should be encouraged for academic achievement and Long Essay Questions (LEQ) can/may be used for writing ability. • The practical / project should always be evaluated by an external.
- 17. Examination Reforms • Minimize Mal-practices • Frequent Evaluation • Discussions on Common Mistakes of Students in Examination • Comprehensive and Balanced Evaluation • Attitude towards being examined should be changed • Minimize delay in the conduct of examination • Meaningful and Gainful Curriculum • Avoid Selective-Study and Guess-Work
- 18. Teacher and Learners’ Role in Assessment • Teacher as: • Performer • Composer • Conductor • Critic • Learner as: • Receiver • Detective • Generator • Facilitator
- 19. Entrance Test and its Importance • Entrance test is a test that many educational institutions use to select students for admission. • Entrance tests access your logical reasoning and thinking ability. The tests are strictly timed. • Different types of questions include Verbal Ability, Numeric Ability, Abstract Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, Mechanical Reasoning, Fault Diagnosis, Data Checking and Work Sample. • Entrance test are important with respect to placement purpose and choosing a career.
- 20. Types of Entrance Tests in Pakistan • UET ECAT • MCAT • SAT • NTS • GRE • LCAT • NUST • COMSATS-NTS TEST • University Own Based Entry Tests
- 21. How to prepare for an Entrance Test • Learn the basics • Everything is important • Practice • Know your weak points • Do not waste time • Be careful while attempting • Avoid gaps • Take care of yourself