Authentic research experience through mock grant application roleplay

Many universities resort to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a challenging endeavour, especially in Biology courses that require lab access. Mock grant application roleplay is one alternative to lab-based activities. Although using mock grant applications as an assessment tool is not new, there have been few studies on students' opinions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that it has been used in place of lab-based exercises and in conjunction with virtual lab modules. Students are engaged in three aspects: (i) targeted literature review, (ii) research proposal writing and (iii) 5-min project pitching. The design of this module is flexible, and other lab-based courses can adopt it. This module encourages undergraduate students to explore the lab techniques and concisely present their research proposals. Compared to the previous semester before COVID-19, the number of students that achieved the "Distinction” grade or higher increased by 6.3%, whilst the failures decreased by 3.2%. A similar trend was observed in 2021, the second year this activity was carried out. A survey amongst students who took this unit reported that student satisfaction with this unit has improved by 11.1%. This improvement could be attributed to this mock grant activity because the format and difficulty level of the student assessments had remained constant. Furthermore, qualitative analysis conducted via focus group interviews indicated that students agreed that the mock grant proposal assessment was useful in preparing them for future careers and was relevant to the course learning outcomes. Several participants pointed to the assessment's potential usefulness for careers in research. In conclusion, this roleplay module can fulfil the learning objectives of this course whilst providing an authentic research experience without lab-based activities. Copyright © 2023 Tan and Lim.

Rethinking Authentic Assessments - A Peer-Assessed Virtual Conference for Online Collaborative Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the teaching challenges of engaging students, building a learning community, and creating enriching learning experiences. Here, we present an authentic, asynchronous assessment method applied as a peer-assessed virtual conference task. The peer assessment and facilitation effectively generated a strong sense of community and teamwork (95% agreement) and enabled the students to generate a deeper understanding of the course content (73% agreement) by fostering critical self-reflection (87% agreement). Student engagement excelled whereby many choose to engage in additional presentations outside of their allocated peer markings. Consistently positive feedback highlighted the task's utility as an online learning tool and its efficacy in shaping a collaborative class community besides remote teaching condition. Additionally, the multi-faceted nature of the assessment promoted a broad range of effective teaching qualities, including collaboration, communication, and application of theory in innovative contexts which lends itself to higher education. Overall, the virtual conference tool and its peer-based facilitation can be considered for effective engineering education practice, which may also apply to other scientific disciplines to improve student learning and experiences.

Possibilities for Long-Term Shifts in Higher Education Assessment Praxis: Reflecting on Covid-19 as a Stimulus for Change

It is widely recognized that assessment impacts on the process and behavior of learning. In this article, we, as academic staff development professionals in two faculties at a research intensive South African university, explore the assessment challenges, processes and behaviours that emerged in the context of Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that an analysis of changes in assessment culture and behaviour point to possibilities for a shift from the pre-COVID-19 dominance of the "assessment of learning" paradigm, to an orientation of assessment where both "assessment of learning" and "assessment for learning" are more equitably balanced, with potentially profound implications for shaping the ways students construct their understandings and succeed academically.

Towards authentic online assessment in higher education: Lessons learnt during the COVID-19 period

Before the COVID-19 era, online learning existed on a smaller scale and in varying forms. However, its quality has always been questioned. Due to COVID-19, many institutions of Higher Education especially in Africa and particularly in Kenya adopted online learning haphazardly as a survival strategy. Its quality, especially the aspect of authentic assessment, was not addressed. Since the shift was abrupt, development of policies, procedures, and training of faculty and students was not done resulting in many unanswered questions such as: How was the assessment done? Was it authentic and thus determined the achievement of learning outcomes and support learning? Did Higher Education Institutions have already-existing clear policies and procedures on online teaching, learning, and assessment? Were the faculty and students sensitised, trained, or aware of such policies and processes if they existed? Were the existing technologies and policies robust enough to support interactive and quality online learning and assessments effectively? This chapter will explore these questions by analysing assessment practices in higher education institutions in Africa during the COVID-19 period and the lessons learnt thereof. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Authentic assessment and work-based learning: the case of professional studies in a post-COVID Australia

Purpose To explore the conceptualisation and operationalisation of authentic assessment in work-based learning and research. Design/methodology/approach The relationship between authentic assessment and work-based learning and research is examined using a postgraduate degree program at a regional university in Australia as a case example to identify unique pedagogical features of work-based learning as they are linked to assessment. Findings A dynamic is created between formative and summative authentic assessment practices and the cross-current nature of learning in work and research, leading to a range of lifelong learning outcomes. A framework for such a dynamic is presented. Originality/value The pedagogy informing work-based learning emphasises developing higher-order thinking through reflective practice, developing competencies and capabilities associated with professional practice and developing academic writing and research skills to enhance professional identity at the postgraduate level for mid- to senior-career professionals. However, the relationship of authentic assessment to work-based learning and research has not been explicated in the literature and its application in post-COVID work environments has yet to be fully examined.

Using reflective, authentic assessments to embed employability skills in higher education

Purpose>Reflection on performance and progress prepares students for workplace environments where self-management is expected, and yet this is something students are not often required to do formally in higher education (HE). This paper explores this gap in students' ability and seeks to address it through a reconsideration of summative assessment practices which, particularly in light of COVID-19, must align with the needs of graduates and their employers.Design/methodology/approach>The paper draws from data collected from the summative reflective assessment reports that degree apprentices (DAs) submitted during the final year of their Business Management degree while undertaking a problem-based module. We undertook a document analysis of these reports and used thematic analysis where we systematically looked for repeated themes in students' reflections.Findings>Students problematise the skills needed during COVID-19, and beyond, both in their academic studies and the workplace. Authentic assessment provides opportunities for students to work on skills and projects which are relevant to them. Through reflective accounts of skills they developed, students were able to bridge academic and professional practice and identify areas of convergence. Students engaged with academic theories in a constructive and meaningful way which suggests that authentic reflective accounts as part of assessment have the potential to maintain academic rigour.Originality/value>Skills development can bring the workplace into HE in a meaningful and systematic way and this article provides guidance for those looking to introduce reflection on skills to other courses. We suggest how this model can be utilised across modules which do not have work-integrated learning in their delivery.

Lecturers’ Views on the Functionality of e-Portfolio as Alternative Assessment in an Open Distance e-Learning

Technological advances and the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have forced higher education institutions to be innovative in delivering education in their countries. E- assessment using e-portfolio illustrates the importance of assessment practices that promote constructivist perception, allowing students to create their own learning as active participants through innovative learning and assessment activities. The purpose of this paper was to explore lecturer’s understandings on the functionality of e-portfolio as an alternative assessment in an Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL). For this qualitative study, within an interpretative paradigm, interviews were conducted with four lecturers using thematic approach. The findings revealed that eportfolio is beneficial for assessment in the ODeL as it allows students the opportunity to self-embrace their learning, e-portfolio enhances student-centeredness through authentic assessment practices. However, e-portfolio is not implemented to its potential due to challenges and constraints experienced by lecturers. Based on the findings, it is recommended that training workshops beneficial for lecturers should be conducted at the beginning of the course/module on how to create their e-portfolios. Furthermore, an e-portfolio assessment framework to be facilitated for the successful implementation of e-portfolio assessment strategy. © 2021 The Author(s).

Online course delivery, assessment, and student satisfaction: The case of Quantitative Chemical Analysis course in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the concept and perception of normalcy, compelling instructors to switch from face-to-face to online instruction overnight. Meanwhile, the satisfaction of course learning outcomes remains a critical element of modern educational systems and should be monitored during online education. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the online delivery and assessment tools of a Quantitative Chemical Analysis course and evaluate student satisfaction. Methods: Formative and summative assessments were used to test students' learning and the application of Quantitative Chemical Analysis concepts using online teaching models. At the end of the semester, a Likert scale survey was sent to all students to get their feedback. Results: Students were extremely satisfied with online learning, believing that the course's intended learning outcomes were met, with student ability to perform calculations and evaluate errors, precision, and accuracy receiving the highest scores, and student ability to explore multiple solutions for a given problem receiving the lowest scores.

Considerations and strategies for effective online assessment with a focus on the biomedical sciences.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused many universities to rapidly transition into online learning and assessment. For many this created a marked shift in design of assessments in an attempt to counteract the lack of invigilation of examinations conducted online. While disruptive for both staff and students, this sudden change provided a much needed reconsideration of the purpose of assessment. This review considers the implications of transitioning to online assessment providing practical strategies for achieving authentic assessment of students online, while ensuring standards and accountability against professional accrediting body requirements. The case study presented demonstrates that an online multiple choice assessment provides similar rigor in assessment to invigilated examination of the same concepts in human physiology. Online assessment has the added benefit of enabling rapid and specific feedback to large cohorts of students on their personal performance, allowing students to target their weaker areas for remediation. This has implications for improving both pedagogy and efficiency in assessment of large cohorts where the default is often to assess basic recall knowledge in a multiple choice assessment. This review examines the key elements for implementation of online assessments including consideration of the role of assessment in teaching and learning, the rationale for online delivery, accessibility of the assessment from both a technical and equity perspective, academic integrity as well as the authenticity and structure of the assessment.