Assessment and Feedback

22 October 20265 min read

This article by Jenny McGarvey and Dr Lisa Harris reflects on a series of "AI for Beginners" workshops delivered to university staff, examining staff attitudes towards generative AI, identifying key training and support needs, and highlighting the importance of clear guidance, practical examples, and ongoing...

11 June 20265 min read

While the teaching of research methods is core to social science and cognate disciplines, pedagogic attention to research methods education has been conspicuously lacking.

28 May 20265 min read

How awareness of aphantasia shaped my approach to inclusive technical education When I was younger, I imagined a future in industrial design.

12 March 20264 min read

In this blogpost we reflect on the current state of education in UK Higher Education Business Schools. We pose a series of radical questions, explain why they matter, and conclude with a challenge.

30 January 20263 min read

At the University of Exeter, the Education Incubator supports innovative ideas that have the potential to transform teaching and learning.

27 November 20254 min read

The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 was a watershed moment for HE, with Generative AI tools producing text that looks human-authored whilst mimicking the demonstration of knowledge, independent research, evidence gathering and argument building that are fundamental to our learning outcomes.

31 July 20252 min read

Part 6 of our series on teaching at scale explores the topic of assessment. With 500+ students, your assessment plan has to work for everyone, from students and staff to systems and schedules.

26 June 20252 min read

In the second of our blog series on leading extra large modules, the team from the University of Exeter Business School are concentrating on consistency in assessment.

15 May 20253 min read

As concerns about student use of AI in assessments grow, a knee-jerk reaction to increase in person exams may lead to unsustainable practices.

7 May 20253 min read

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education at an unprecedented pace, yet its role in higher education remains a subject of debate.

18 September 20243 min read

In response to requests from DESE Engage and the SACO forum, we are introducing two new requirements from September 2024 to provide clarity around the use of GenAI in assessments for both staff and students, and to help prevent academic misconduct.

18 September 20243 min read

In the 2024/25 academic year, English and Creative Writing will be adopting a new approach to assessing module participation with the aim of increasing the inclusivity of our assessment practices.

6 March 20244 min read

If we want students to know what is expected of them in an assessment it is critical to have a set of marking criteria that make transparent how they will be assessed.

14 February 20243 min read

As educators, we must continue to explore new approaches to assessment that not only assess student learning but also cultivate a deeper understanding of the complex issues at the heart of decolonisation.

14 February 20243 min read

Authentic assessment refers to a wide variety of educational and instructional techniques focused on connecting what students are taught to real-world issues, problems, and applications, mirroring the complexities and ambiguities of real life.

14 February 20244 min read

Generative AI promises to transform the world of work. Graduates with skills in ethical and proactive use of such tools are in great demand.

14 February 20243 min read

Since the launch of open-access Generative AI tools at the end of 2022, educators across the globe have had to stop and question their assessment methods, responding to the potential threat of academic misconduct from these tools.

14 February 20243 min read

Students on the second year, 30-credit module ‘Disease, diagnostics and therapeutics’ (CSC2012), engage with a range of formative and summative assessment tasks that help them develop their assessment literacy and evaluative judgement.

31 January 20243 min read

Written essays play a significant role in the university assessment ecosystem, but are challenging to mark at scale and when overused don’t generally offer much added value to the student.

13 December 20234 min read

Student engagement is a hot topic in education at the moment, and gamification is one way we can create effective and engaging learning environments for our students.

1 November 20232 min read

Reflective writing can be a powerful tool to improve student learning outcomes in university courses. However, many first-year students lack the skills to write reflectively.

11 October 20233 min read

Online assessments provide flexibility but also opportunities for misconduct. Some reports estimate that 1 in 6 students have cheated (Wonkhe, 2022), others suggest the figure is 1 in 14, with 3 in 5 engaging in poor academic conduct (THE, 2022).

23 August 20232 min read

Colleagues from across the Medical Sciences programme, led by Dr David MacDonald, Dr Dominic Wiredu Boakye, Dr Shalinee Dhayal and Dr Hannah Welters, support students within Academic Tutor Group sessions and activities to develop their academic and professional skills, including their awareness of assessment skills.

21 August 20233 min read

In 2022, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) in Exeter presented a collection of 14 alternative blue plaques created by students who were part of the Global Lives: Multicultural Geographies module taught by Professors Nicola Thomas and Ian Cook.

21 August 20232 min read

To support central provision provided through LTHE and APP, Classics and Ancient History conducts an annual marking training session for new academic colleagues (including PTAs) and encourages existing teaching staff members to attend.

21 August 2023< 1 min read

Dr. Caitlin Kight, Lecturer in Education, has developed a video case study on how the Graduate School of Education helps students engage with feedback.

15 August 2023< 1 min read

To improve feedback in Biosciences Streatham, Dr. Alan Brown and Katie Solomon introduced marking and feedback guidelines for 2021/2022.

15 August 20232 min read

Dr Layal Hakim, Senior Lecturer and Co-Director of Education and Student Experience in Mathematics and Statistics, shares some effective approaches for supporting students with exams and assessments.

15 August 20232 min read

Dr Owen Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, has shared his approach to preparing students for assessments on two different modules in Politics.

15 August 2023< 1 min read

Assessment in History makes significant use of essays, and module convenors in History are encouraged to dedicate one lecture to essay-writing skills.

17 May 20224 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online teaching and learning. But how do we make sure it blends effectively with more traditional learning approaches?

22 September 20212 min read

At the start of a new academic year, now is a good time to pause and reflect for a moment on how the University responded to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what we can learn from that response.

12 August 20214 min read

From in-class tests to essays to presentations, there are many ways in which module leads can assess their students’ understanding.