Assessment terms half a century in the making and unmaking: from conceptual ingenuity to definitional anarchy

As the parameters of the field of educational assessment have extended past testing into learning, assessment concepts have evolved and become ever more nuanced. It is frequently lamented in the English language literature that there is insufficient conformity and clarity in the way they are defined and used. This paper offers a survey of the problem over the past five decades and scrutinises conceptualisations of a number of key assessment terms. Additionally, it argues that some of these may not, or may no longer, be necessary, and recommends the phrase ‘evaluation for learning’ as the most suitable term for embodying the spirit of using testing for improving learning and teaching. It closes by offering suggestions for tackling the problem.     

Prior knowledge in mathematics and study success in engineering: informational value of learner data collected from a web-based pre-course

The article describes the development and evaluation of a web-based pre-course in mathematics, delivered to four cohorts of engineering students at a German university. Based on demographic, personal, and learning-related data relationships between students’ preconditions, their learning gains in the pre-course, and study success in the degree programme were analysed. The results support the existing literature in that domain-related prior knowledge and secondary school achievement play a dominant role regarding study success in engineering. The analyses also showed that the influence of cognitive predictors could only be compensated for by a strong learner engagement. At-risk students with high pre-course learning gains showed significantly better first-year performance. The number of self-tests a student attempted was positively related to pre-course learning gains and even to first-year performance, suggesting that this variable is a good indicator of student engagement.     

Impact and educational outcomes of a small group self‐directed teaching strategy in a clinical neuroscience curriculum

The complexity of the material being taught in clinical neuroscience within the medical school curriculum requires creative pedagogies to teach medical students effectively. Many clinical teaching strategies have been developed and are well described to address these challenges. However, only a few have been evaluated to determine their impact on the performance of students studying clinical neuroscience. Interactive, 2‐hour, self‐directed small‐group interactive clinical case‐based learning sessions were conducted weekly for 4 weeks to integrate concepts learned in the corresponding didactic lectures. Students in the small groups analyzed cases of patients suffering from neurological disease that were based on eight learning objectives that allowed them to evaluate neuroanatomical data and clinical findings before presenting their case analysis to the larger group. Students’ performances on the formative quizzes and summative tests were compared to those of first‐year medical students in the previous year for whom the self‐directed, small‐group interactive clinical sessions were not available. There was a significant improvement in the summative performance of first‐year medical students with self‐directed clinical case learning in the second year (Y2) of teaching clinical neuroscience (P < 0.05) when compared with first‐year students in the first year (Y1) for whom the self‐directed learning approach was not available. Student performance in the formative assessments between Y1 and Y2 was not significantly different (P = 0.803). A target of ≥70% student scoring above 80% in the final summative examination was met. The current study revealed evidence for the impact and educational outcomes of a self‐directed, clinical teaching strategy in a clinical neuroscience curriculum for first‐year medical students. Anat Sci Educ 11: 478–487. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

Large Lecture Halls: Whiteboards,Not Bored Students

Large lecture halls are a common feature of many undergraduate mathematics programs. However, teaching effectively in a large lecture hall can be challenging. This paper discusses the use of personal whiteboards for students as a way to make large lecture halls a more productive learning environment. I discuss the logistics of using whiteboards, setting up norms, and provide examples of supporting instructional techniques. These techniques are: warmup problems, think-pair-share, group work, and student presentations. To support this exposition, I draw on personal reflections as an instructor and report from a brief student survey on their experiences using the whiteboards.     

Teacher evaluation in Chile: highlights and complexities in 13 years of experience

The paper examines the process of establishing a teacher evaluation system in Chile and its acceptance by teachers over time. The conceptual base upon which the system was established is described. Evidence is also examined from a variety of data sources and research related to the evaluation system as well as teachers’ use of its results. This evidence includes information from an external review of the system noting tensions between the formative versus accountability purposes of the evaluation system and that are being attended to in the new Teacher Professional Development Law (2016).     

形成性评估在高职英语教学中的反拨作用

结合高职英语教学中形成性评估教学模式的探索,将形成性评估与终结性评估作对比分析研究,总结形成性评估对英语教学的反拔作用,并对在高职英语教学中如何提高形成性评估反拨作用的正面影响提出建议。     

高职英语教学中多元化评价体系的构建

课堂教学评价是高职英语教学的重要环节。文章从高职英语教学实际出发,介绍了构建多元化的英语学习评价体系的意义,提出了在高职英语教学中实施形成性评价的具体做法。     

形成性评价在高职英语教学中的应用初探

教学评价是英语教学重要的环节,直接关系到教学效果是否达到预期目的。本文比较了形成性评价和终结性评价两者之间的区别,并阐述了形成性评价的意义及其在高职英语教学中的应用策略。     

形成性评价的特点及实施办法

形成性评价被认为能有效地提升学习表现,但在课堂实践中这种评价方式的展开却存在各种问题。因此,对形成性评价的本质探讨以及对其实施过程的研究需要进一步加强,以期能为教学过程提供更加有效的评价手段。本文通过理论分析、梳理总结,发现形成性评价的目的在于促进学习,其实施主体包含教师和学生,并以过程为导向;另外,实施该评价的方式包含：提高学生学习参与性、提供课堂示范、提供反馈和采取学生评价。     

我国高等教育专业综合评价中质性分析的运用策略

目前,我国高等教育的专业综合评价体系以定量测量为主要手段,质性分析的运用十分有限,主要表现为质性分析认识不足、流于形式和工具缺乏。究其原因主要在于专业综合评价的主体单一,对形成性评价不够重视,缺乏合理有效的质性分析模式。为此,需要更新评价理念,加强对质性分析的理论和实践研究,并在此基础上建立质性分析的运行机制以及配套的监督保障机制。