GEES Subject Centre Assessment for Learning Conference

Monday 22nd June, 2009 9.30 am - 4.30 pm

University of Manchester Conference Centre, Fallowfield Campus, Manchester

Programme

9.30 - 10.00 am Arrival / Refreshments

10.00 – 10.15 am Welcome Address

10.15 – 11.00 am Aaron Porter, Vice President (Higher Education), National Union of Students (NUS) – The Student Perspective of Assessment and Feedback

11.00 – 11.25 am Parallel Session 1

• Alan Boyle, University of Liverpool – Using Portfolio Assessment to Engage Introductory Geoscience Students in their Subject and to Develop Learning Skills
• Pauline Kneale, University of Leeds – Assessment is the Problem – is the Answer Project Management?
• Carol Ekinsmyth, University of Portsmouth – Experiences of Audio-Delivered Assessment Feedback: Students and Academic Staff

11.25 – 11.45 am Poster Session / Tea and Coffee Break

11.45 – 12.10 pm Parallel Session 2

• Andrew Clegg, University of Chichester – Non-Written Forms of Assessment: A Case Study of a Student-Led Widening Participation Activity for Local Schools
• Brian Whalley, Queen’s University, Belfast – Meta-Cognitive Education or University Challenge? Do we really need Examinations?
• Jackie Pates, University of Lancaster – Completing the Cycle: An Investigation of Structured Reflection as a Tool to Encourage Feedback

12.15 – 12.40 pm Parallel Session 3

• Tim Stott, Liverpool John Moores University– Diversity in Level 1 GEES Assessment: Moving from Less of More to More of Less
• Margaret Harrison, University of Gloucestershire; Dawn Nicholson, Manchester Metropolitan University; and Brian Whalley, Queen’s University, Belfast – Standards, Criteria and Assessment of the Geography Dissertation
• Fiona Smyth, University of Manchester – Assessing Student Fieldwork: Peer Assessment and Negotiation of Marks

12.45 – 1.45 pm Lunch

1.45 – 3.00 pm Workshops

• Margaret Price, Director of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, ASKe (Assessment Standards Knowledge Exchange), Oxford Brookes - Sharing Assessment Standards with Students.
• Anthony Mellor, AfL (Assessment for Learning) CETL Associate , Geography & Environmental Management, Northumbria University - Group work assessment: key considerations in developing good practice
• Derek France, Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Chester – Digital Storytelling

3.00 – 3.30 pm Plenary

3.30 – 4.15 pm Sally Brown, Pro Vice Chancellor, Assessment Learning and Teaching Leeds Metropolitan University – Assessment in Higher Education: where next?

4.15 pm Tea and Coffee / Departure

Delegates will have the opportunity to:

• Network with and learn from the experience and research of leading academics in the field of assessment (e.g. the Assessment for Learning (AfL) and Assessment Standards Knowledge Exchange (ASKe) CETLs)
• Showcase examples of good practice
• Consider how best to enhance the assessment process
• Discuss the issues with fellow academics and students
• Attend facilitator-led workshops (topics covered: sharing assessment standards with students, assessing group work and the use of digital technologies in assessment and feedback)

The student experience of feedback and assessment is central to the continuing development of this aspect of learning and teaching, therefore we would like to encourage participants to bring students to this event. The GEES SC will provide a bursary for students to attend.

Key Themes

• Assessment for learning: the functions of assessment (grading and learning), motivating learning through assessment, formative learning, "closing the feedback loop"
• Communicating the process and outcomes of assessment and feedback: providing meaningful and useful feedback, engaging students in the assessment process
• Assessment in the GEES disciplines: investigating GEES-specific assessment issues, e.g. assessment of fieldwork, laboratory work, 3D visualization etc.
• Plagiarism: plagiarism as a product of poor academic writing, developing the writing skills of students in their transition to HE, student induction
• Programme-wide approaches to assessment: such as the consistent adoption of peer and self assessment, staff development issues that arise from programme wide initiatives
• Managing assessment loads: over-assessment and its implications for students and staff, managing the quality of assessment and feedback

Registration

We have had an excellent number of registrations for the conference - the conference is now full and registration has been closed.