Improving Students' Learning by Developing their Understanding of Assessment Criteria and Processes

Abstract

Rust, C, Price, M and O'Donovan, B Improving students' learning by developing their understanding of assessment criteria and processes. Rust, C, Price, M and O'Donovan, B (2003) Improving students' learning by developing their understanding of assessment criteria and processes. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education , 28 (2). pp. 147-164.

Understanding the rules of the game: marking peer assessment as a medium for developing students' conceptions of assessment

“…However, the mechanisms by which students develop an understanding of assessment are unclear. Rust et al (2003) stress the tacit nature of assessment criteria and the difficulty of transferring such tacit knowledge to others. They draw on the analogy of developing 'connoisseurship', which is largely about socialization and experience 'involving observation, imitation, dialogue and practice ' (p. 152).…”

A multi‐faceted formative assessment approach: better recognising the learning needs of students

“…Indeed, the provision of information is central to the creation of an effective and efficient learning process (Bloxham and Boyd;2007). Such information should be viewed as helping to reduce the likelihood of the learner wrongly interpreting assessment and subsequently handing in an assignment for formative feedback that wrongly addresses the question set (Rust et al, 2003). Therefore, the purpose of the 'information' element to assessment should be to make clear what is expected of the student during the assessment stage of learning, and in doing so maximise the utility of formative feedback.…”

“…Covic and Jones, 2008;Ellery, 2008;Miller, 2008), other researchers have commented on the importance of providing the student with information that serves to clarify the aims and objectives of assessment (e.g. Rust et al 2003;Nicol and Macfalane-Dick 2006;Bloxham and Boyd;2007). Indeed, the provision of information is central to the creation of an effective and efficient learning process (Bloxham and Boyd;2007).…”

The way students’ internalize assessment criteria on inquiry reports

“…Students can identify more effectively the strengths and weaknesses of their processes and products, have better performances, be more motivated and less anxious and develop skills inherent to self-regulated learning (Andrade & Du, 2007;Dann, 2002;Rust et al, 2003).…”

“…Kirby & Downs, 2007;Rust, Price, & O'Donovan, 2003;Tillema, 2014), informing students about their assessment criteria is usually insufficient for internalization to occur. In fact, the internalization is a complex process (Andrade & Du, 2007;Clark, 2012).…”