Putting assessment at the heart of learning: Results from the Change Academy

H13, Treforest campus

Presenters: Prof Norah Jones (CELT), Alice Lau (CELT) & Dr Cath Jones (HASS)

In 2008-2009 the University participated in a year-long Change Academy project supported by the Higher Education Academy. It aimed to put assessment at the heart of learning – driving curriculum development and significantly contributing to an improved quality of learning experience for students. The first phase of the project started in two faculties, the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries (CCI) and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS).
The objectives of the project are 1) Improve the quality of the student experience so that assessment helps students’ learning. 2) Develop and implement a revised approach to curriculum design so that assessment is at the heart of learning and 3) Reduce assessment workload for staff and students.
This project carried out various activities targeted at both staff and students to initiate change, including the exploration of the students’ view on assessment and feedback and also worked with staff to identify good practice and provide support for innovation and experimentation.

This seminar will report the findings and results from this institutional wide project, including students’ views on the current assessment and feedback provisions and some of the changes resulting from the project, such as the assessment diary. This seminar will be of interest to academic and learner support staff and senior managers.