GDE 4005 Assessing and Reporting

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

Assessment of students' learning is of fundamental importance to teachers' effective planning, curriculum implementation and teaching. A deep understanding of the principles and practices of authentic assessment is imperative with the increased socio-cultural diversity among students in our schools at a time when governments increasingly require teachers to provide benchmark data in such areas as literacy and numeracy. Valid and authentic assessment requires data collection in a variety of ways from a range of sources. The results of students' assessment will inform teachers' work, students, parents, education systems and employers.

SYNOPSIS:

In this course students will explore the theories and practices of a range of authentic assessment procedures They will be exposed to the concepts of authenticity, reliability, validity and consistency in selecting, using and interpreting approaches to and methods of assessment. They will critically analyse the suitability of such assessment practices for their own educational contexts. Students will be required to demonstrate competence in constructing and implementing assessment activities and procedures for the educational program in which they are involved. Students will collect evidence of student learning progress, including student work samples, and apply this evidence to inform their on-going teaching and in reporting on student progress to appropriate audiences. The course provides for a nominal 15 days of professional attachment to an identified school. During this period of attachment students will be immersed in the day-to-day operations of the school and in the work of a teacher, with a particular focus on the connections between that work and the issues covered in this course. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. understand and demonstrate a range of inclusive and authentic assessment processes to cater for the full range of students' learning styles and other aspects of diversity
2. understand the differences between assessment of and for learning
3. plan for the alignment of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
4. construct a range of assessment tasks with appropriate rubrics to assess student achievement
5. provide informative, evidence-based reports and feedback to students, parents, systems and other legitimate stakeholders
6. understand the role and nature of norm-referenced benchmark testing in education
7. demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skill in the use of appropriate personal, professional and academic literacies
8. apply an understanding of assessing and reporting in the professional attachment
9. articulate an example of how the key concepts encountered in this course can be applied in an educational setting
10. demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of appropriate ICT uses for teaching, learning, assessment and reporting processes.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

GDE4005 USQ Resource Package

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in the residential school and other scheduled learning activities (such as on-campus workshops and web-based activities) scheduled for them. Students must complete 15 days of professional attachment at an identified school site.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks for each assessment item.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   Students who fail to submit assignments by the due date without prior approval must apply to the course examiner for deferred assessment. The course examiner will consider each such application on its individual merits.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   In order to gain a passing grade in the course, students must submit all items of assessment; complete all professional attachment requirements successfully; and attain at least 50% of the total available marks. Normally, there will be no opportunity for the resubmission of failed or unsatisfactory items of assessment.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
2. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the state of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.