Transforming Assessment Practices in Education

Course Objectives

• To provide participants with a clear understanding of the principles and benefits of innovative, student-centred assessment.
• To explore alternative approaches to traditional assessment, including formative assessment, feedback strategies, and competency-based evaluation.
• To equip educators with practical tools to design and implement meaningful, inclusive, and motivating assessment practices.
• To promote student participation, autonomy, and ownership of the learning process through active assessment methods.
• To encourage participants to reflect on their current practices and develop new strategies to transform assessment in their own teaching contexts.

Schedule

Module 1 – Rethinking Assessment in Education

• The role of assessment in learning: from traditional testing to student-centred approaches.
• Benefits and limitations of conventional assessment methods.
• Key principles of innovative, formative and competency-based assessment.
• Inspiring international examples of transformed assessment practices.

Module 2 – Principles of Student-Centred and Competency-Based Assessment

• Aligning assessment with learning objectives and 21st-century skills.
• Shifting the focus from grades to meaningful learning progress.
• Competency frameworks and performance-based evaluation.
• Designing assessment that values creativity, problem-solving and collaboration.

Module 3 – Formative Assessment Strategies

• Understanding assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning.
• Effective techniques for monitoring progress throughout the learning process.
• Using questioning, observation and feedback loops to guide learning.
• Examples of low-stakes assessments that drive improvement.

Module 4 – Self-Assessment and Peer-Assessment

• Encouraging students to take ownership of their learning progress.
• Tools and frameworks for peer review and collaborative feedback.
• Benefits of self-reflection and metacognition in assessment.
• Designing simple and effective rubrics for peer and self-assessment.

Module 5 – Providing Meaningful Feedback

• Characteristics of high-quality, constructive feedback.
• Feedback as a tool for motivation, autonomy and growth.
• Digital and non-digital tools for giving feedback efficiently.
• Using feedback to create a culture of continuous improvement.

Module 6 – Digital Tools for Innovative Assessment

• Tools for formative assessment (Kahoot, Quizizz, Mentimeter, Edpuzzle).
• Platforms for rubrics and feedback (Google Forms, Padlet, FeedbackFruits).
• E-portfolios and digital badges for competency-based learning.
• Choosing the right tool for different assessment purposes.

Module 7 – Inclusive and Flexible Assessment Practices

• Designing assessment that meets diverse learning needs.
• Strategies for supporting students with different abilities and backgrounds.
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in assessment.
• Promoting equity and fairness in evaluation.

Module 8 – Designing Authentic Assessment Tasks

• Creating real-world, performance-based assessment activities.
• Linking assessment tasks to real-life contexts and interdisciplinary learning.
• Balancing individual and collaborative assessment tasks.
• Showcasing learning: presentations, projects and portfolios.

Module 9 – Developing an Innovative Assessment Plan

• Framework for designing a complete assessment strategy for a lesson or unit.
• Selecting appropriate tools, methods and feedback approaches.
• Aligning assessment with curriculum and student needs.
• Peer review and improvement of the designed assessment plans.

Module 10 – Implementation, Reflection and Next Steps

• Strategies for integrating innovative assessment into everyday teaching.
• Overcoming challenges and resistance to change.
• Sharing participants’ plans and building a collaborative network.
• Creating a personal action plan for continuous improvement in assessment.