Selecting Assessment Methods
Provided that students are sufficiently supported in becoming familiar with each assessment method, using a wider range of assessment can enhance student learning and ensure that students are assessed across a range of abilities, which gives everyone some opportunities to play to their strengths.
A well-developed course-level assessment strategy can ensure that the range of assessment conducted over the duration of a course provides suitable opportunities for all students to gradually develop and demonstrate a full range of knowledge, skills, competences and graduate attributes.
Most of us tend to rely on a small range of familiar, traditional assessment methods.
Whilst each assessment method has its own merit, making use of only a very restricted range of methods is unlikely to promote and support the development of all the intended learning outcomes and enable success for all students.
Taking a more holistic approach to assessment design can help avoid over-assessment, making things more manageable for both staff and students.
Your choice of assessment methods and tasks is likely to be informed by a broad range of factors, such as:- the intended learning outcomes- the level of study- the characteristics of the students- the students' prior experience of assessment
- the availability of resources - the disciplinary context- the delivery mode- or any professional standards requirements.
Most importantly, remember to consider the pedagogical approach - for example, a case-based pedagogy would be unlikely to be highly dependent on assessment by exam.
We hope these resources will help you identify the assessment methods that are best suited to your context and the needs of your students.