Journal Article

Why do we need to \repair\ our assessment processes? A discussion paper/¿Por qué necesitamos \reparar\ nuestros procesos de evaluación? Artículo de discusión

Race, Phil

2003

Overview

In the issue vol. 4, no 1, 2003 (pp 50-51) of this Journal there was published a review of the interesting book by Phil Race \"Designing Assessment to Improve Physical Sciences Learning\" (Learning and Teaching Support Network, LTSN, University of Hull, 2001). In this article the author provides a provocative personal view of the problems of assessment of students within higher education in England. Many will find this controversial, but the issues raised are important in all countries and at all levels of education. Assessment of students is vitally important but it tends to dominate and to distort the whole educational process. In all systems one important objective for both teachers and students is that students should do their best in the assessments and hopefully gain appropriate qualifications. However, the objectives of, and competences developed through, learning and teaching must reach well beyond merely 'passing the test'. Phil Race argues that the highly developed examination system in England is not sufficiently valid, reliable, transparent or authentic. A particular challenge is a response to the Special Educational Needs Discrimination Act (2002) that requires that the necessary discrimination between abilities by assessment should not unfairly discriminate against those with disabilities. There are no easy answers to the issues raised, however it is not just teaching and learning that need to be updated and continually reviewed, but teaching, learning and assessment. We all need to be involved in getting our assessment processes in good repair (fixing them) and keeping them 'fixed '. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

• Publisher: Journal of Science Education
• Subject: Achievement tests / Committees / Educational evaluation / Educational Needs / Examiners / Higher Education / Learning / Learning Strategies / Quality Assurance / Quality Control / Science education / Science Instruction / Special Needs Students / Student Evaluation / Students with Disabilities