Education Faculty: Making use of different assessment types for formative & summative assessment

Education Faculty: Making use of different assessment types for formative & summative assessment

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Education lecturers have made effective use of different assessment types over a period of time. This blog is a reflection of the implementation of assessment methods in different disciplines. Assessment types used by lecturers include the use of the Assignments, Tests and Quizzes, ePortfolios and Digital Stories to assess students. 

Assignment eTool

The iKamva platform can be used to set up summative assessment activities via the Assignments eTool, which allows students to upload and submit their work accordingly.

Application: ‘Take-home’ research proposal aligned to rubric

Lecturers, Khayelethu Hamana (EDC 413) and Xolani Mbelani (TMM 301) - have set up an online ‘Take-home’ assessment for their 2019 mid-year examination, whereby students needed to submit a research proposal. Both lecturers shared a rubric with their students which entailed the assessment criteria. The assessments were set-up using the ‘iKamva-Turnitin integration’, and students were given sufficient time in order to submit and edit accordingly for re-submission purposes.

Test & Quizzes eTool [MCQs, True-and-False, Short Answer]

The Tests & Quizzes tool allows instructors to create online assessments (i.e., tests, exams, quizzes, and surveys) for students or particular groups. Online assessments can be marked automatically when certain question types are selected; and questions can be randomised per student.

Application: Weekly formative assessment tasks (reflection, reinforcement and preparation) & Evaluation

Lecturers Ronel Koch and Zainoenisa Allie have made use of specific eTools within the iKamva platform to supplement their teaching practice for 3rd year students. Their respective modules aimed to prepare prospective educators with the skills and knowledge to become a Senior Phase Educator (Grades 7-9). Resources were distributed to students which included Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) documents, weekly lecture slides, articles, referencing guides for assignments and an exam scope.

Students were expected to engage in 5 weekly tasks which were designed within the Tests & Quizzes eTool. These tasks included the use of various question types such as True-and-False, Short Answer and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). These formative tasks were used as a form of consolidation of course content; and also a space for reflection and goal setting. In addition, these tasks assisted with reinforcement, revision and preparation for examinations as well as their future careers as educators. Students were also required to complete an evaluation which provided feedback to the lecturers around their teaching and student learning aspects.