Assessment and Feedback in GEES

Dr Jennifer Hill Associate Professor in T&L

NTF, CGeog

HEA STEM postgraduates who teach GEES

RGS-IBG, London, 5 November 2012

Assessment – central to the student experience:• ‘frames learning, creates learning activity and orients all

aspects of learning behaviour’ (Gibbs, 2006: 23)

Feedback – central to learning from assessment:• ‘feedback quantity and quality are the probably the most

important factors in enhancing students’ learning’ (Race, 1999: 27)

However:• ‘the literature on student experiences of feedback tells a

sorry tale’ (Handley et al., 2007: 1)

• ‘many students commented on ‘cryptic’ feedback which often posed questions, but gave no indication of where they went wrong’(GfK, 2008: 8)

Brief Context: Assessment and Feedback

Break-out question 1

• What is the purpose of assessment feedback?

• In groups of 3-5, compose a list of key points

• To indicate to students why they gained the grade they did

• To indicate to external examiners why students gained the grade they did

• To close the ‘performance gap’ ... and so help students to achieve a desired grade outcome

• To enhance student learning

What is the purpose of assessment feedback?

• ‘I don’t collect my work and/or read your comments’ ? • ‘I want the grade’ ? • ‘I can’t understand what you want me to do’ ?• ‘I am de-motivated by the grade/comments’ ?

• Do we know what our students think?• Do expectations of students alter as they

progress through their studies?

Are your conceptions of feedback the same as your students?

Break-out question 2

• What types of assessment feedback are there?

• In groups of 3-5, compose a list of key types

• formative v summative

• formal v informal

• written v verbal (incl. audio and video)

• text v tick-box v grade

• personal (specific) v group (generic)

• disembodied (cover-sheet) v embodied (on script – within text)

• hard copy v electronic (email, VLE, blogs)

• self v peer v tutor

What types of assessment feedback are there?

Think about when and how to use these types

audiofeedbackstudentvoicesmay09.mp3

Break-out question 3

• What do you consider are the preconditions for effective feedback?

(consider nature of source, content and recipient)

• Are your conceptions the same as the students’?

• In groups of 3-5, compare your ideas to those of the NUS Charter (published Sep. 2010)

NUS Charter outlines 10 key principles for effective feedback and assessment in HE

• Come from a credible source

• Seen as fair and considered

• Identifiable as feedback

• Timely

• Legible (... and avoid red pen)

• Informative / helpful:- clear, comprehensive message concerning specific issues

of the performance gap (i.d. errors and misunderstandings);- information on how to bridge the gap

(developmental/scaffolding – i.d. goals and strategies); - positive (encouraging) comments made before

negative: recognise effort & acknowledge achievement

Preconditions for effective feedback

• Encourage positive motivation and self-esteem

• Not confusing/contradictory - unambiguous

• Linked transparently to LOs & marking criteria so students can link feedback to future understanding

• Opportunity for student voice – discussion

• Stimulate engagement – a learning tool for students to monitor their performance

• Balance: - support and challenge - assignment-specific with transferable feedback

Preconditions for effective feedback

• students and staff co-generate expectations about feedback as assignment progresses

• formative dialogic feed-forward - meaning extracted from tutor comments in order for them to be acted upon and translated into better performance (walkthrough feedback/feed-forward ... with audio support? Withhold grade until feedback discussed; overview annual feedback and create action plan)

• students ready to engage with further feedback .....

• effective feedback is a relational process that is integral to the teaching and learning experience

Model of good practice to enhance assessment literacy?

Handley et al. (2011)

So, consider the table below in your practice ...

New feedback delivery Standard feedback delivery

Encourages dialogue between giver and receiver of feedbackInvolves peersExplicitly encourages self -assessment/regulationFeedback on assignment processStudents encouraged to be proactive in working with feedback

Monologue often tutor directed one way feedbackDoes not involve peersDos not explicitly encourage self-assessment/regulationFeedback on assignment productStudents encouraged to be reactive in working with feedback

New methods of feedback delivery in comparison with standard methods

Source: Orsmond et al. (forthcoming)

Useful references

Bailey, R & Garner, M. (2010) Is the feedback in higher education assessment worth the paper it is written on? Teachers' reflections on their practices. Teaching in Higher Education, 15, 187-198.

Cartney, P. (2010) Exploring the use of peer assessment as a vehicle for closing the gap between feedback given and feedback used. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 35, 551-564.

* Crook, A.C. (2011) The use of video for feedback. www.reading.ac.uk/videofeedback.

Handley, K., Price, M. & Millar J. (2011) Beyond ‘doing time’: investigating the concept of student engagement with feedback. Oxford Review of Education, 37, 543-560.

* Hughes, P. & Boyle, A. (2005) Assessment in the Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies. GEES Learning and Teaching Guide. HEA GEES.

* JISC (2010) Effective Assessment in a Digital Age. HEFCE

* Lizzio, A. & Wilson, K. (2008) Feedback on assessment: students’ perceptions of quality and effectiveness. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 33, 263-275.

Nicol, D. (2010) From monologue to dialogue: improving written feedback processes in mass higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 35, 501-517.

Nicol, D. (2012) Resituating feedback from the reactive to the proactive. In D. Boud & L. Malloy (eds) Effective Feedback in Higher and Professional Education: understanding it and doing it well. Routledge (in print).

* NUS (2010) Charter on Feedback and Assessment. Available at: http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/news/article/highereducation/720/

* Orsmond, P., Maw, S.J., Park, J.R., Gomez, S. & Crook, A. (forthcoming) Moving feedback forward: theory to practice. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education.

Parkin, H.J., Hepplestone, S., Holden, G., Irwin, B. & Thorpe, L. (forthcoming) A role for technology in enhancing students’ engagement with feedback. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education.

Poulos, A. & Mahony, M.J. (2008) Effectiveness of feedback: the students’ perspective. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 33, 143-154.

QAA (2006) Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in Higher Education. Section 6: Assessment of Students. Available at www.qaa.ac.uk.

Robinson, S., Pope, D. & Holyoak, L. (forthcoming) Can we meet their expectations? Experiences and perceptions of feedback in first year undergraduate students. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education.

* Rodway-Dyer, S., Knight, J. & Dunne E. (2011) A case study on audio feedback with geography undergraduates. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 35, 217-231.

Weaver, M.R. (2006) Do students value feedback? Student perceptions of tutors’ written responses. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 31, 379-394.