Developing formative assessments for postgraduate students in engineering

This paper outlines an approach taken to produce computer-based formative assessments for two modules in a one-year taught MSc programme in Road Management and Engineering. It presents the aims of the assessments, the taxonomy adopted to ensure that the formulation of the questions addressed learning outcomes related to the development of higher order skills and the choice of software used. Further, the students’ qualitative perception of the assessments is presented together with a discussion on key elements that affected the implementation procedure. This included an understanding of the higher order skills assessed, knowledge of the facilities offered by the software to be used, and the commitment needed to designing, delivering and improving flexible learning materials.     

MetaMaps: Assessing understanding of large, complex or distributed knowledge domains

Many traditional assessment instruments and procedures are developed for the purpose of assessing a carefully defined degree of understanding of specific items, such as competence in arithmetic or demonstrating a particular physical skill. The knowledge or skill to be assessed is learnt through a limited set of learning experiences, in conjunction with selected texts and other resources as defined in the curriculum—often in a closed system. Evaluating learners understandings of wider and more complex knowledge systems can require a different approach. MetaMaps—a reflective, hypertext alternative to the traditional essay, provides an alternative approach to the linear essay, term paper or minor thesis for evaluating students holistic understandings of open knowledge systems. For students, MetaMaps have the advantage of being developmental, allowing for the ready inclusion of developing knowledge and perspectives, and they make the learning/evaluation cycle more holistic by using the MetaMap as both a learning and assessment tool. This paper describes the development and ongoing revision of the MetaMap concept.     

How Risky Are One-Shot Cross-Sectional Assessments of Undergraduate Students?

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent of possible input bias associated with the rapidly growing use by colleges and universities of one-time cross-sectional assessments of students. The results presented in this study demonstrate that cross-sectional assessments of enrolled college students are very difficult to interpret because they inevitably reflect characteristics of the same students when they first entered college. For those forms of engagement that have to do with how students allocate their time, it appears that the majority of variation among institutions is attributable to entering freshman characteristics rather than to institutional policies or practices. Thus, rather than relying solely on student outcome data, institutions should ideally also collect pretest or input information from the same students when they first matriculate.     

基于形成性考核评价学生自主学习能力的一种定量分析方法

学生自主学习能力的评价一般采用定性或定量的方法,在认为学生形成性考核成绩是自主学习能力的某种标志的基础上,本文利用模糊综合评价研究这一方法,为定量评价学生自主学习能力提供了一种途径。     

植物解剖学实验考核体系的改革与实践

植物解剖学实验作为植物学课程教学的重要组成部分,不仅能够巩固植物学理论知识,锻炼学生的观察和操作能力,也有利于培养学生的实践创新能力和严谨的科学态度。重点从学生课堂表现的评价、实验报告的绘制和考核形式等方面探讨了植物解剖学实验教学的改革措施,为提高教学质量提供指导。     

"三个代表"重要思想的学习测评初探

“三个代表”重要思想的学习测评作为教学活动的一个重要环节，在维系“三个代表”重要思想的教学活动的正常运作、调控“三个代表”重要思想的教学进程、引导学生的学习活动等方面起着十分重要的积极作用。要做好“三个代表”重要思想的学习测评工作，就要创建学生“文件夹”、确定“三位一体”的测评主体、采取形成性的学习测评方式等。     

健康素养的内涵与评价

健康是人首要和珍贵的财富,实现健康及其可持续发展的重要途径是提高健康素养。健康素养是保障人全面发展的必备素养,是反映经济社会发展水平的综合性指标,是体现教育质量和教育公平的重要素养。健康素养具有综合性、层次性、互动性、终身性和目的性等特点。基于健康素养的不同界定,国际上开发了大量的以成年人为对象的健康素养评价工具。国际上的健康素养研究为我国学生健康生活素养研究的开展提供了借鉴:应准确理解和把握学生健康生活素养的内涵,开发完善我国学生健康生活素养的评价体系,高度重视沟通性和批判性健康素养的培养。     

以社会贡献界定卓越科研:澳大利亚大学的社会互动与影响力评价

随着知识生产模式的现代转型,大学科研活动面临日益加重的社会问责,科研评价关注的焦点逐渐从重视科研数量与质量的内部评价转向注重科研社会贡献度与影响力的外部评价。在大学卓越科研评估的基础上,2018年澳大利亚政府引入了社会互动与影响力评价。作为大学卓越科研评估的配套评价机制,社会互动与影响力评价以其更加精细化、立体化的指标体系设计,引导大学在科研活动全过程中积极与政府、产业及社会进行互动和协作,较好地兼顾了结果评价与过程评价,突出了社会贡献能力培育与机制建设,充分挖掘了科研评价的激励与导向作用。借鉴社会互动与影响力评价的评估思路,我国在清理“五唯”的过程中应明确建立质量与贡献并重的科研绩效评价体系,对大学科研的社会互动过程与实际贡献给予更多关注。     

优势公司“买壳上市”透视

近年来,非上市公司通过对上市公司的控股达到间接甚至直接上市的目的是我国证券市场上蔚成风气的并购现象－买壳上市。然而,“买壳上市”因受到许多政策、体制、公司内外因素的制约,既有成功的案例、也有失败的案例。本通过两种案例的分析,阐述了优势公司怎样实施“买壳上市”的相关问题。     

Evaluating Academic Challenge Beyond the NSSE

The authors investigated student and faculty perceptions of academic challenge at their institution, based on early administrations of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This analysis revealed that the NSSE did not fully capture many meanings of academic challenge held by these faculty and students. This study led to a proposal for the development of an internal assessment approach using a modification of the NSSE and other scale items on academic challenge and student engagement. The authors discuss several implications of this study for academic scholarship and for institutional policy concerning the assessment of academic challenge.All authors except Jim Purcell are at Georgia College and State University. Stephen L. Payne received his Ph.D. in Management from Arizona State University. He is an Associate Professor of Management and has broad research interests in areas related to ethics and education. Karynne L. M. Kleine is an Associate Professor of Middle Grades Education and has an Ed.D. from the University of Maine in science studies. Her interests are intellectual development for teacher preparation and the history and philosophy of science education. Jim Purcell received his Ed.D. from the University of Alabama, is currently the Executive Director of State System Research for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and concentrates on issues of student retention and graduation. Ginger Rudesal Carter is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication with a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her interests include research on oral history, the media, and issues relating to the student press.