Reflecting on assessment and feedback in curriculum design: the viewpoints experience

Facilitators: Dr Alan Masson and Catherine O’DonnellWith contributions from Dr Vilinda RossRoom 16G25 12.30-1.2026th January 2012.

Session Outline

o An Introduction to Viewpoints.

o Group work tasks.

o Brief sharing of experiences and evaluation findings.

o Questions, conclusions and close.

A short video introduction on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux0Bv7fRrQI

An Introduction to Viewpoints Viewpoints is a JISC funded curriculum

design project.

It has a remit to create a series of reflective tools to promote & enhance effective curriculum design.

The tools use a learner timeline with established pedagogical principles and ideas as prompts to help staff consider areas of their curriculum while considering the learner perspective.

• Inform, inspire and plan.

• There are benefits for- Curriculum development.- Course teams.- Students.

• 2 views- Course and module.

• 4 themes- Assessment and feedback,- Information skills,- Learner engagement and - Creativity and innovation.

Viewpoints 3 Part Framework

CourseLevel Perspective

Supports those who wish to look at Course View.

ModuleLevel Perspective

Supports those who wish to look at Module View.

Assessment and Feedback Theme

REAP (http://www.reap.ac.uk/)

1. Clarify good performance.

2. Encourage time and effort on task.

3. Deliver high quality feedback.

4. Provide opportunities to act on feedback.

5. Encourage interaction and dialogue.

6. Develop self-assessment and reflection.

7. Give assessment choice.

8. Encourage positive motivational beliefs.

9. Inform and shape your teaching.

*Implementation ideas for each principle on back of cards.

Assessment and Feedback at Ulster

• The University has recently adopted a set of Principles for Assessment and Feedback for Learning

(http://ee.ulster.ac.uk/assessment_and_feedback/)

• These are based on the REAP principles

(http://www.reap.ac.uk/)

(http://www.reap.ac.uk/Portals/101/Documents/Theory%20and%20Practice/REAP%20principles.pdf)

Viewpoints A&F Workshop Taster An opportunity to use and explore the assessment and

feedback theme.

Task 1 – Consider scenario, select and map principles to learning timeline (10 minutes) Consider your scenario and choose 2/3 principles (cards) to

help address your challenge. Place these cards on the learning timeline considering the

student perspective.

Task 2 – Select potentially relevant implementation ideas (10 minutes)

o Turn over the most important card(s) and select ideas.o Note where you could your add own ideas or comments in

order to tailor the examples & record action points/reflections.

Task 3 - Share reflections, feedback about the process and evaluation… (10 minutes)

Activity worksheet – select one word / phrase (most useful) and two (important)

Verbal feedback: How did the resources / activities influence and support you:

• as an individual?• as a group?

Brief sharing of experiences and evaluation findings.

Sample finished worksheets

Shared meanings and priorities

Interactive and engaging

Facilitated discussions

Informative and supporting

Building effective teamsIn a short period of time through:

•Informal environment•Establishing shared meanings and priorities•Facilitating discussions and the sharing of ideas•Consensus building•Collaborative development of the workshop output

www.wordle.net

Conclusions, questions and close By now you should:

o Be aware of the Viewpoints project.

o Have seen some assessment and feedback resources and also examples of staff using Viewpoints resources and prompts.

Any Questions?

Further information

Viewpoints project blog: http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk

Viewpoints resources site: http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources

Dr Alan Masson, Project Director - aj.masson@ulster.ac.uk

Catherine O’Donnell, Academic E-Learning Consultant - c.odonnell@ulster.ac.uk

Dr Vilinda Ross, Research Fellow - v.ross@ulster.ac.uk