The University of Adelaide
Course Outlines

EDUC 7553 - Assessment & Evaluation

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

This course examines the purposes, paradigms and types of assessment and evaluation used in education. The key roles of assessment in learning and teaching, including feedback are discussed. The role of evaluation and the analysis of assessment data to inform practice are explored.

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  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code EDUC 7553
    Course Assessment & Evaluation
    Coordinating Unit School of Education
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assessment Critical Review and Presentation, Peer Evaluation, CTT Presentation, 3000 word Report
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Igusti Darmawan

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1 Understand and explain the fundamental concepts of assessment and evaluation principles
    2 Differentiate between assessment and evaluation in education
    3 Design and construct assessments
    4 Present the various forms or assessment types and how cognitive development can be measured and tracked through assessments
    5 Utilise the key concepts in assessment to analyse and critique assessment and evaluation reports
    6 Apply understanding of assessment and evaluation principles in evaluating individual, group and institution performance.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    		 1, 2, 6

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    		 2, 4, 5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    		 3, 4, 6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    		 1, 3, 4, 6

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    		 3, 4, 6

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    		 2, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    1. Masters, G.N. (2013). Reforming Educational Assessment: Imperatives, principles and challenges. Australian Education Review. Camberwell, Victoria: ACER.
    2. Postlethwaite, T.N., &Kellaghan, T. (2008). National assessments of educational achievement.The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) Report. Paris, France: UNESCO.
    3. UNESCO (2013). World Education Forum: Assessing learning achievement. Asia-PacificEducation System Review Series No. 5. Bangkok: UNESCO.
    4. OECD (2013). Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: Synergies for Better Learning – An International Perspective on Evaluation and Assessment. Paris, France: OECD.
    5. OECD (2011). Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: AUSTRALIA. Paris, France: OECD.
    6. Porter, A.C., & Smithson, J.L. (2001). Defining, Developing, and Using Curriculum Indicators. CPRE Research Report SeriesRR-048. Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.
    7. DEP. (2009). Designing Education Projects: A Comprehensive Approach to Needs Assessment, Project Planning and Implementation, and Evaluation. (2nd Ed.). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
    8. Popham, J.W. (2006). Assessment for Leaders. Boston: Pearson.
    9. Braun, H., Kanjee, A., Bettinger, E., & Kremer, M. (2006). Improving Educationthrough Assessment, Innovation, and Evaluation.Cambridge, MA: American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
    10. The Gordon Commission Final Report: To Assess, To Teach, To Learn: A Vision for the Future of Assessment. (2013).Princeton, NJ: The Gordon Commission.
    Recommended Resources
    1. Please see reading/assignment list.
    2. Koretz, D. (2008). Measuring up: What educational testing really tells us. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
    3. Farley, T. (2009). Making the Grades: My misadventures in the standardised testing industry. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
    4. Meyer, J.H.F., & Land, R. (2006). Overcoming barriers to student understanding: Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge. (Eds.). NY: Routledge / Tayloy& Francis Group.
    5. Tuijnman, A.C., &Postlethwaite, T.N. (1994). Monitoring the standards of education. NY: Pergamon.
    6. Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: How America’s commitment to equity will determine our future. NY: Teachers College, Columbia University.
    Online Learning

    Occasionally, the instructor may assign readings of journal articles and selected chapters from assessment textbooks, which will be made available online via MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    A balance between ‘student centred’ and ‘teacher centred’ approaches to learning with emphasis on fostering an engaging learning pedagogy will be used in this course. Lectures will be supported by discussions and problem-solving practicals which will require active participation from students.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Contact time : 36 hours
    Non-contact time : 90 hours (readings, home works, and assignments)
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week Key Concepts / Themes
    1 Introduction to Course
    A&E (in Education and the Human Sciences)
    Conceptualising Assessment & Evaluation
    2 Learning and Assessment; Types of Learning
    3 Assessment types, learning theories, and utility issues (validity, reliability, bias, bandwidth and fidelity)
    4 Assignments 1 and 2: Critical Review Presentation and Peer evaluation
    5 Taxonomies and Learning Objectives
    6 Classical Test Theory
    7 Assessment for Learning
    8 CITAS, TAP
    9 LERTAP, jMetrik
    10 Introduction to Evaluation in Education
    11 Evaluation Plans, Templates, and Research Design 
    12 Assessment, Evaluation, and Accountability
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    Assignment 1 : Critical review and presentation (Assessment & Utility) Formative and Summative (Group: 10%, Individual: 10%)

    Week 4

    		 20% 1, 3, 4, 5
    Assignment 2 : Peer evaluation of Critical Review presentation Summative (Individual)) Week 5 10% 1, 6
    Assignment 3 : CTT Presentation Formative and Summative (Group: 20%, Individual: 10%) Weeks 7, 8 30% 1, 3, 4
    Assignment 4 : Report Summative (Individual) Week 14 40% 1, 2, 3
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment 1: Critical review and presentation (Assessment & Utility)
    In goups, select an assessment type you believe optimally captures the ‘bandwidth’ and ‘fidelity’ of learning (you will need to indicate the year level and subject/content area). Develop an eight-slide presentation to highlight how the concepts of validity, reliability, bias, bandwidth and fidelity are addressed. You are allowed five minutes presentation time, and two minutes to address the questions your colleagues and facilitator raise.

    Assignment 2: Peer evaluation of Critical review presentation
    You will undertake peer evaluation of Assignment 1. We will work as a class to develop the full rubrics for evaluating the critical review and presentation

    Assignment 3: CTT Presentation
    In collaborative groups you will be required to learn how to use a particular software package for analysing test results based on CTT; to teach your peers how to use the software; and to design an assessment task to gauge your peers’ ability to use and apply it in their own context.

    The goal of this task is to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of assessment and evaluation in terms of the course outcomes:
    • Demonstrate a critical insight into, and be able to apply the purposes, principles and paradigms of assessment.
    • Evaluate current assessment policy and practices in relevant contexts from the viewpoint of various stakeholders.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of assessment designs that promote learning, engage learners and provide credible evidence.

    You are to write a report that addresses one or more of the above. You are to write a report that addresses one or more of the above. The word limit is 3000 word (excluding references).

    Suggested issues or tasks
    (a) Develop a literature review on contemporary approaches to assessment in the classroom and an implementation plan to embed that approach in your classroom.
    (b) Design an innovative orientation to assessment for a subject or course in your field or for an integrated course that involves more than one field. Provide a well substantiated rationale for such an approach and trial the approach where possible.
    (c) Design a policy on assessment for your educational institution and provide a rationale for the various principles of procedure.
    (d) Critique an existing assessment practice in terms of three principles of assessment and redesign the assessment practice according to those principles.
    (e) Develop an evaluation approach for a course you teach – how do you know it’s effective in terms of the outcomes? What evidence will you use?
    (f) An independent study negotiated with the course lecturer
    Submission
    1. Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
    2. All individual assignments must be attached to an Assignment Cover Sheet which must be signed and dated by the student before submission.
    3. All group assignments must be attached to a Group Assignment Cover Sheet which must be signed and dated by all group members before submission. All team members are expected to contribute approximately equally to a group assignment.
    4. Markers can refuse to accept assignments that do not have a signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism (refer to the policy on plagiarism above).
    5. Requests for extensions will be considered only if they are made three days before the due date for which the extension is being sought. Students must apply to the lecturer concerned on the ‘Application for Extension’ form at the back of the Academic Program Handbook.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
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The University of Adelaide
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