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Summative assessment plan

A summative assessment plan is an extension to the course description included in the approved programme doc. It identifies the type, nature, weighting and frequency of summative assessment events in a course.

  1. Type: The form or method of assessment used to evaluate student learning. Types of summative assessments can include exams, projects, presentations, papers, practical demonstrations, and portfolios. The type of assessment chosen often depends on the learning outcomes it aims to measure.

  2. Nature: Its characteristics and what it aims to assess (which learning outcomes). This can involve its scope, its focus (theoretical knowledge, practical skills, or both), and its approach (analytical, critical, or reflective). The nature of the assessment dictates how students will engage with the material and demonstrate their understanding.

  3. Weighting: The significance of each assessment within the overall course grade. It indicates how much each assessment contributes to the final grade. For example, a final project might count for 30% of the total course grade, while a midterm exam might count for 20%. Proper weighting helps balance the course’s assessment scheme, ensuring that it fairly reflects all aspects of student learning.

  4. Frequency: How often an assessment occurs during the course. It can be a single occurrence (such as a final exam) or multiple occurrences (like weekly quizzes or several major projects throughout the semester). The frequency of assessments needs to be balanced to provide ongoing feedback while avoiding overwhelming students or diluting the significance of each assessment.

The need for a detailed summative assessment plan is highlighted by the current inadequacies in Te Pukenga unified programme documents, which do not sufficiently address the assessment requirements of courses. This plan ensures that all assessments are purposefully designed to reflect and support the educational objectives and learner needs effectively.

There is a tool in the attachments section of this page that can help with identifying appropriate weighting.

https://tools.chesterwhitwell.co.nz/tools/Updated_LO_Management_App.html

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