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Programmatic design choices in 25 different HE programs

Assessment in higher education (HE) is often focused on concluding modules with one or more tests that students need to pass. As a result, both students and teachers are primarily concerned with the summative function of assessment: information from tests is used to make pass/fail decisions about students. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the formative function of assessment and focus has shifted towards how assessment can stimulate learning. However, this also leads to a search for balance between both functions of assessment. Programmatic assessment (PA) is an assessment concept in which their intertwining is embraced to strike a new balance. A growing number of higher education programmes has implemented PA. Although there is consensus about the theoretical principles that form the basis for the design of PA, programmes make various specific design choices based on these principles, fitting with their own context. This paper provides insight into the design choices that programmes make when implementing PA and into the considerations that play a role in making these design choices. Such an overview is important for research purposes because it creates a framework for investigating the effects of different design choices within PA.

A model for programmatic assessment fit for purpose

A model for programmatic assessment in action is proposed that optimizes assessment for learning as well as decision making on learner progress. It is based on a set of assessment principles that are interpreted from empirical research. The model specifies cycles of training, assessment and learner support activities that are completed by intermediate and final moments of evaluation on aggregated data-points. Essential is that individual data-points are maximized for their learning and feedback value, whereas high stake decisions are based on the aggregation of many data-points. Expert judgment plays an important role in the program. Fundamental is the notion of sampling and bias reduction for dealing with subjectivity. Bias reduction is sought in procedural assessment strategies that are derived from qualitative research criteria. A number of challenges and opportunities are discussed around the proposed model. One of the virtues would be to move beyond the dominating psychometric discourse around individual instruments towards a systems approach of assessment design based on empirically grounded theory.

Enhancing student self-regulation through programmatic assessment

At the conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) Niels Bohnen and Suzan van Ierland presented their research about enhancing student self-regluation through prgrammatic assessment. The aim of the current study is to discover to which degree studying within a course program based on programmatic assessment enhances self-regulation of students compared to students in a traditional course program. The results of the study could provide guidelines for the implementation of self-directed learning within course programmes at HAS green academy, inparticular aimed at programmatic assessment.

Towards a new balance in functions of assessment

Assessment in higher education (HE) is often focused on concluding modules with one or more tests that students need to pass. As a result, both students and teachers are primarily concerned with the summative function of assessment: information from tests is used to make pass/fail decisions about students. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the formative function of assessment and focus has shifted towards how assessment can stimulate learning. However, this also leads to a search for balance between both functions of assessment. Programmatic assessment (PA) is an assessment concept in which their intertwining is embraced to strike a new balance. A growing number of higher education programmes has implemented PA. Although there is consensus about the theoretical principles that form the basis for the design of PA, programmes make various specific design choices based on these principles, fitting with their own context. This paper provides insight into the design choices that programmes make when implementing PA and into the considerations that play a role in making these design choices. Such an overview is important for research purposes because it creates a framework for investigating the effects of different design choices within PA.

Eindrapportage Intake assessment Duale opleiding tot onderwijsassistent Bve en instructeur Bve.

Fontys, met name de lerarenopleidingen in Tilburg en Eindhoven, voert sinds 1999 een duale opleiding uit ten behoeve van onderwijspersoneel voor het Bve. Bij de ontwikkeling van deze opleiding zijn tien Regionale Opleidingscentra (ROC s) betrokken uit Brabant en Limburg. Studenten beginnen doorgaans niet blanco aan de duale trajecten. Als ze op wat oudere leeftijd instromen, hebben ze vaak al een diversiteit aan scholing en werkervaring achter de rug. Dat verhoogt de noodzaak om vooraf via een intake assessment te onderzoeken over welke relevante eerder verworven competenties de betrokkenen beschikken. Goede intake-assessments leiden uiteindelijk tot flexibilisering in de uitvoering. Bij de invulling van de opleiding wordt met de resultaten rekening gehouden. Diverse medewerkers van Fontys hebben zich met de constructie van een betrouwbaar en valide instrumentarium voor intake-assessment in de duale opleiding beziggehouden. In dit rapport zijn de ervaringen gebundeld en in een breder kader geplaatst.

Evaluatie assessment statushouders