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SUMMARY:Can the public have confidence in national assessments? - Andrew W
 atts
DTSTART:20121108T103000Z
DTEND:20121108T120000Z
UID:TALK34876@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:14709
DESCRIPTION:Each year examination boards and awarding bodies have to respo
 nd to some negative perceptions in the press and among their stakeholders 
 of the working of the examination system. Yet statistics suggest that the 
 examinations achieve a reasonable level of reliability. Is a general quest
 ioning of the professionalism of the boards undermining the national exam 
 system? The awarding bodies and Ofqual have responded by increasing the tr
 ansparency of the system and by emphasising that practices and procedures 
 conform to a system of public regulation. Perhaps this agenda should inclu
 de more discussion of the meaning of the term ‘measurement error’? But
  will that term be unhelpfully misunderstood? This seminar will also addre
 ss the current moves to improve in-school assessment practice and will ask
  if such moves will produce greater reliability and confidence in the syst
 em.\n\nThis seminar is free to University of Cambridge staff and students\
 , £30 for others.\n\nThis seminar is part of the Assessment Principles se
 ries of seminars presented by Andrew Watts\, a Principal Consultant for th
 e Cambridge Assessment Network Division. The series focuses on five key to
 pics in assessment: the purposes of assessment\; the relationship between 
 assessment and learning\; the development of assessments\; the validity an
 d the reliability of assessments. Each session addresses one of these topi
 cs. Though the topics are the same each year\, up-to-date issues are discu
 ssed which focus on recent news stories or which represent the latest thin
 king in that area. The series is for those who want to take a broad view o
 f the field of educational assessment\, in company with others working in 
 the field. Participants will be able to share their own experiences and pe
 rceptions\, and to reflect on those of others. A certificate is awarded fo
 r attendance at all five sessions (contact the Network team for details).\
 n\nDates for 2012 are:\n\n8 March: What is the purpose of public assessmen
 ts (Cambridge)\n12 April: What is the purpose of public assessments (Coven
 try)\n10 May: How can assessment support learning? (Cambridge)\n12 July: M
 easurement or judgement: is assessing an art or a science (Cambridge)\n13 
 September: How can we ensure the value of the assessments we create? (Camb
 ridge)\n11 October: Can the public have confidence in national assessments
 ? (Coventry)\n8 November: Can the public have confidence in national asses
 sments? (Cambridge)\n
LOCATION:Cambridge Assessment\, 1 Hills Road\, Cambridge
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