Assessment for Learning: Engaging Students, Improving Performance

Assessment means more than just testing and grading. Assessment can also be used to engage students and improve their academic performance. For assessment to be effective, it must be grounded in sound instructional design, and aligned with ambitious and specified learning goals. The first part of this seminar in the Certificate in University Teaching series will discuss the importance of aligning assessments with course goals, before turning to a discussion of the differences between formative and summative assessment, and how a professor can use feedback to support student development. Ample time will be provided to ask questions, and participants will walk away with practical strategies and a deepened appreciation for the centrality of assessment for effective teaching. The seminar is led by Dr. Jeffery Frank, chair of Education and director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Assessment at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.