Assessment

Western Sydney University is committed to improving the quality of assessment for students, and to making clear the criteria and standards against which student work is assessed. The criteria and standards-based assessment policy, and related unit outlines and learning guides policy provide the framework for clarifying assessment expectations.

The Assessment Guide (PDF, 2785.96 KB)  (opens in a new window) contains research-led practical advice and examples of criteria and standards for various types of tasks, across a range of disciplines. The Guide articulates a process for developing criteria and standards, describes teaching and learning activities which help students deepen their understanding of expected standards, and discusses criteria and standards as the basis for providing feedback to students.

Assessments in fully online courses are critical to develop learning, identify areas for improvement and check understanding. In fully online units learning has no face-to-face components, is mostly self-directed and all interactions are online. There is the potential to integrate more analytics, feedback and also for the tutor to gain a rich portfolio of evidence of student progress over time.

Digital Assessment is:

  • part of effective planning in a fully online unit
  • focussed on how the students will learn in an online environment using the many tools available
  • sensitive and constructive due to the remote nature of online unit delivery
  • useful to motivate, engage and communicate progress to online students
  • an important part of peer and self-assessment within online unit delivery

Summative and formative assessment in fully online units

These can be used for progression and certification purposes as well as a measure of overall learning and include:

  • Key points during the unit that need to be passed to move on to next area of learning
  • Assignments within the unit
  • Final assessment of unit completion
  • Tasks with timely, appropriate feedback
  • Impact of current learning of students
  • Self and peer assessment

Assessment Resources

  • Higher Education Academy (opens in a new window) This site contains a range of resources on assessing online and assessing group work. Group work resources include: A Briefing on Self, Peer and Group Assessment; and Assessment of Individuals in Teams.
  • University of Waterloo: Centre for Teaching Excellence: Teaching Tips (opens in a new window) This site contains a range of resources on assessment including: methods for assessing group work; group decision-making; group roles – maximising group performance; making group contracts;  teamwork skills – being an effective group member. 
  • Computer Assisted Assessment Centre (opens in a new window) This site contains a resource on designing objective tests such as MCQ's: Guide to objective tests.