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SUMMARY:Assessing assessment – progress or politics? - Dr Tony Ashmore (
 National Education Trust)
DTSTART:20110302T153000Z
DTEND:20110302T170000Z
UID:TALK28388@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Liz Ford
DESCRIPTION:This is the title of a pamphlet in NET’s Counterblast series
  aimed at stimulating debate. It is based on the thesis that high stakes e
 xternal assessment has come to dominate the educational experience of stud
 ents in our schools and colleges. Assessment is an everyday tool used by t
 eachers to determine what students know and can do\, and to plan their tea
 ching. Students need evidence of their attainments for entry to higher edu
 cation and employment. Schools and colleges are rightly held accountable f
 or the service they provide and government needs evidence to develop polic
 y. \n\nHowever\, the amount of assessment has increased and its purposes h
 ave become confused. Too much time and money that could otherwise be used 
 for productive learning is wasted on external assessments. Prime responsib
 ility for assessment should be restored to schools and colleges. \n\nThe a
 ssessment industry (awarding bodies) should refocus its activities on appl
 ied research and development in assessment methodology. The industry shoul
 d produce assessment tools and professional development for teachers and a
  much slimmed down external verification service.\n\nThe speaker will deve
 lop the arguments presented above leaving the majority of time for discuss
 ion.\n
LOCATION:Hughes Hall\, Mortimer Road\, Cambridge\, UK
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