MAE4050 ¨C Current Topics and Debates in Assessment and Evaluation

Course content

This course introduces you to current topics and debates in educational assessment, measurement and evaluation both in Norway and around the world. Implications and consequences, both expected as well as unexpected, of educational assessments are discussed from the perspective of the various stakeholders.

The exact topics of this course will change from year to year. However, the topic of validity and reliability is always recurring, discussed, and used to situate our understanding of assessment, measurement and evaluation.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

• understand current views of validity and reliability in both assessment, measurement and evaluation literature
• demonstrate an understanding of global movements in the field of assessment, measurement and evaluation
• understand current popular views of educational assessments and evaluations in the Norwegian system

Skills

• demonstrate capacity to discuss differing theories of validity and how different understandings change the way assessments and evaluations are currently being used
• discuss the different reasons why we assess and evaluate educational systems and how differing conceptions, values, and agendas result in current assessment/evaluation systems, internationally and within Norway.

Competencies

• discuss the most pressing debates in educational assessment and evaluation
• explain how those debates and discussions influence how educational assessments and evaluations are being used
• choose and apply a validity framework to a current educational evaluation system

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

This course is only open to students who are admitted to the master's programme in Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation.

Teaching

The course consists of seminar sessions linked to specific topics and debates in the field.

Before each seminar you must read the assigned literature for that seminar and write a half-page personal statement on the discussion statement attached to the seminar.

During the first half of the seminar, the topic is introduced by the student group with the presenter role, with the other students and seminar leaders providing feedback on contents and elaborating on the topic.

In the second half of the seminar, a think-pair-share approach will be followed based on the personal statements to further discuss and debate the topic of the seminar.

Obligatory course components:

• personal statements for every seminar
• participation requirement for the seminars (you can miss maximum one seminar)
• seminar presentation for your assigned topic & debate

It is recommended that all students maintain a course portfolio with summary presentation slides for each seminar to facilitate in-class discussion and to be adequately prepared for the individual examination at the end of the course. The in-class presentations are tailored in line with this examination and can be regarded as practice and feedback opportunity.

Examination

The exam format is a 20 minute oral presentation.

Each student submits a list of three topics they would like to present for the final presentation. It is not possible to choose the topic you have already presented in class.

You will be notified three days before the exam which one of your preferred topics you have been assigned.

The detailed exam arrangements will be published on the Canvas page of the course.

Guidelines for the final presentation

Assessment criteria for the final presentation

You need to have successfully completed the obligatory course components before being allowed to sit the exam. If you do not fulfill these requirements, you must submit a written request to apply for an additional assignment prior to sitting the exam. The application must document stated reasons for absence beyond your control.

Examination support material

You will be allowed to use your course materials during the exam.

Language of examination

The exam language is English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

The assessment form is integrated into the teaching and therefore it is not possible to take an exam on the subject without admission to the teaching.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.