Rethinking assessment: inclusive assessment & standards in a dynamic and changing world
On 17 April 2024, QQI, AHEAD and the Disability Advisors Working Network (DAWN) hosted a conference on “Rethinking Assessment: Inclusive Assessment & Standards in a Dynamic and Changing World”.
The aim of this event was to encourage teaching/academic staff, leaders, academic and learner support staff, and learners from the further and higher education sectors, and Professional, Statutory & Regulatory Bodies, to reflect on the validity of their preferred approaches to assessment of learners’ achievement of intended learning outcomes (i.e., standards) and, in doing so, to reflect on how students are affected, whether those standards and assessment approaches need to be more inclusive and, if so, how to make them more inclusive.
Those who participated heard from national and international experts on:
- the challenges to inclusive assessment and standards in contemporary teaching, learning and assessment contexts;
- the impacts where assessment and standards are not inclusive; and
- how we might respond to the challenges and opportunities presented.
The event also featured case studies of innovative practice in inclusive assessment and standards from across further and higher education.
Links to recordings of presentations and panel discussions on the day are available below, along with associated presentation slides and case studies.
Unlocking Potential: The Power of Inclusive Learning
Learnable and Barrier Free: A Starting Point for Rethinking Assessment
Friend or foe? Generative artificial intelligence and inclusive assessment in higher education
Embracing Equity: Envisioning an Inclusive Future in Assessment
Inquiry Based Learning and Assessment: Authentic, Universal and Accessible
Redesign of a Written-only Assignment in Personal & Professional Development (L6)
Podcast Episodes as Inclusive Assessment
“If then Else” Inclusive Assessment and Standards for FET Skills development for Beauty Therapy
A Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Case Study: The National Sales Apprenticeship Programme
Presentations
Anita Byrne - Inclusive Assessment through Enquiry Based Learning
Kelda McManus - Challenges for Students Engaging with Assessment
Declan Treanor - Embracing Equity Envisioning an Inclusive Future in Education
Dr Therese Kenna - Podcast Episodes as Inclusive Assessment
Edel Gavan & Jessica Martin - UDL Case Study National Sales Apprenticeship
Geraldine O'Neill - UCD Assessment for Inclusion Framework
Jen Harvey & Robert Brennan Bell - TU Assessment Methods Compendium
Joanna Tai - Assessment for inclusion
Kevin Merry - Learnable and Barrier Free
Maeve O'Sullivan Redesigned Assessment for PPD L6
Orna Farrell - Friend or Foe GenAI and Inclusive Assessment in HE
Roisin Doherty - Unlocking Potential The Power of Inclusive Learning
Case study - Promoting Inclusive Assessment - A Collaborative Approach in Donegal ETB - Donegal ETB
Case study - A systems approach to unlocking student potential and the hidden curriculum - UCC
Case study - Rubrics for integrated practical assessments - LCETB
Case study - Podcast Episodes as Inclusive Assessment - UCC
Case study - Inquiry Based Learning and Assessment Authentic, Universal and Accessible - DkIT
Case study - Belonging Mattering and Becoming - The First Year Experience - TU Dublin
Video case studies
Including Students in Assessment – Carlow Institute
Building in Engagement and Inclusivity in Teaching and Assessment Practice – TU Dublin
A UDL Case Study The National Sales apprenticeship Programme - MSLETB
During the event, delegates engaged in a collaborative dialogue on considerations relating to the potential development of national principles on inclusive assessment. The discussion was informed by work undertaken by Dr Geraldine O’Neill and Dr Sheena Hyland in UCD on an Assessment for Inclusion framework.
Summary information on this work and the collaborative dialogue session is available here
