Conditions Under Which Assessment Supports Students’ Learning
~ Graham Gibbs & Claire Simpson
This article reminded me of last year, when I invited my former student, now a 2nd year student at a university in the States, to speak as a guest in my English 12 class. I was shocked when he discussed his perception of University life and the assessment procedures in his courses. It resonates very closely to Gibbs & Simpson’s article and their discussion on how students view the assessment procedures at University.
My prized student’s first piece of advice was, “It’s okay to skip lectures in University”. My heart dropped when I heard it, and my student quickly glanced my way and added, “But of course, it’s best not too!” However, I encouraged him to explain and this is what he said:
Lectures in University are not important. The tutorials are not important either, unless there are marks for attendance. If not, just make sure you are in your tutorial or lecture when an assignment is due, when there is a pop quiz, and when there is a midterm or a final.
All important notes can be found online. And some professors are nice enough to record the entire lecture and post them online as well. In addition, what you really need to do is join some student clubs that have past exams and midterms. If you study from these, then you will do fine.
The best experience I’ve had so far is exploring the city. I highly recommend this! Of course, (another glance), you should always make sure you don’t stay out too late….
Another student studying in BC, said:
In my school, the most important lesson that I’ve learned is that everything is marked on a “curve”. So, as long as you’re not at the bottom, you will be fine. It is impossible to be at the top, so don’t worry about it.
My last student guest speaker, studying in Alberta, said:
What I learned is… you don’t really need to read the textbook. Just listen to what the professor is focusing on, and then you will know exactly what’s on the test.
Although I was happy the students came back for a visit, I was disappointed with how my top students perceived university life, whether or not it was true. When Gibbs & Simpson discussed similar reactions from university students, I realized that this reaction may be more common than I thought.
Perhaps assessment in education needs to be updated, just like everything else. The standards and ways of assessment need to reflect what is being taught in class, and what is expected of students, in regards to knowledge and skills, and what they should walk away with after the course is over.