Case studies in making assessment efficient while developing student professionalism and managing transition

Abstract

It is known that assessment drives learning and hence a good assessment design is key to effective student development. This paper gives some case studies in effective assessment strategies within engineering. The main contribution is to demonstrate how one can simultaneously meet a number of requirements with individual assessments and therefore be efficient in both the student and staff assessment load. The paper also proposes that assessments should be challenging and the benefits of expecting students to rise to this challenge and also how one can meet many independent learning objectives in a single assignment in order to manage the overall assessment load for staff and students.

Keywords:

• efficient assessment
• professionalism
• learning outcomes

Notes

1. We use analogies like a mechanic changing a tyre; the mechanic does not know what car will come in next but they are expected to change the tyre quickly regardless.

Additional information

About the author

Dr J.A. Rossiter studied in Oxford for his first degree and doctorate (1984–1990) and took up his first academic post in Loughborough (1992) before moving to his current post of reader in Sheffield in 2001. His interests span technical research, mainly in predictive control, and education. Within education his main interests are dissemination and adoption of good practice.