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SUMMARY:What is the purpose of public assessments? - Andrew Watts
DTSTART:20120308T103000Z
DTEND:20120308T120000Z
UID:TALK34254@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:14709
DESCRIPTION:How have examinations come to hold such a significant part in 
 our national life? Such a question leads us to ask why students have to ta
 ke so many GCSEs\, English language exams\, A levels\, vocational assessme
 nts and so on. This seminar seeks to describe the part that examinations p
 lay in modern societies. Are they part of a widespread system of rules and
  regulations which constrain individuals? Or are they a route to new oppor
 tunities which lead to growth and self-fulfillment? Those who are working 
 in the field of assessment might see themselves as trying to balance the t
 ensions which pull in each of these directions. This seminar will be an op
 portunity to address such issues in the light of current discussions about
  educational assessment. \n\nFree to University of Cambridge staff and stu
 dents\, £30 for others\n\nThis seminar is part of the Assessment Principl
 es series of seminars presented by Andrew Watts\, a Principal Consultant f
 or the Cambridge Assessment Network Division. The series focuses on five k
 ey topics in assessment: the purposes of assessment\; the relationship bet
 ween assessment and learning\; the development of assessments\; the validi
 ty and the reliability of assessments. Each session addresses one of these
  topics. Though the topics are the same each year\, up-to-date issues are 
 discussed which focus on recent news stories or which represent the latest
  thinking in that area. The series is for those who want to take a broad v
 iew of the field of educational assessment\, in company with others workin
 g in the field. Participants will be able to share their own experiences a
 nd perceptions\, and to reflect on those of others. A certificate is award
 ed for attendance at all five sessions (contact the Network team for detai
 ls).\n\nDates for 2012 are:\n\n8 March: What is the purpose of public asse
 ssments (Cambridge)\n12 April: What is the purpose of public assessments (
 Coventry)\n10 May: How can assessment support learning? (Cambridge)\n12 Ju
 ly: Measurement or judgement: is assessing an art or a science (Cambridge)
 \n13 September: How can we ensure the value of the assessments we create? 
 (Cambridge)\n11 October: Can the public have confidence in national assess
 ments? (Coventry)\n8 November: Can the public have confidence in national 
 assessments? (Cambridge)\n
LOCATION:Hughes Hall\, Mortimer Road\, Cambridge
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