CRADLE Collaborative Event: Conceptions and Theory in Assessment Research

31 May 2017

CRADLE recently hosted a collaborative event for Deakin staff, aimed at providing an overview of CRADLE’s research areas and introducing opportunities for collaborative research. The event was well-attended by staff from across all faculties, with the CRADLE team leading lively discussions around trends and challenges in assessment research.

Prof. David Boud introduces the CRADLE Collaborative Event. Photo: Phillip Dawson

The morning was kicked off by CRADLE’s director, Professor David Boud, who introduced the CRADLE team before providing an overview of ‘What’s Hot in Assessment?’ Prof. Boud noted that higher education is entering a new era of assessment discourse with a clear focus on standards, and described how the Australian higher education sector is currently transitioning to this new assessment landscape – while institutions are often committed to standards-based assessment in principle, practice is still catching up in many instances. Prof. Boud also discussed the emerging recognition of sustainable assessment as a “very important” skill, and the importance of students taking an active role in assessment. Lastly, Prof. Boud outlined a number of recent shifts and transitions in assessment, including from corrections and comments to sustainable assessment and from distinguishing excellence to recognising distinctiveness.

Dr. Rola Ajjawi and Dr. Joanna Tai then led a discussion of current challenges in assessment research, with attendees drawing on their personal teaching experiences to suggest a broad range of challenges. Themes included subjectivity in assessment, disciplinary differences, challenges in building relationships with online students, and rubrics as a useful but often problematic tool. The topics generated in this discussion continued to be the subject of many conversations over morning tea!

A/Prof. Margaret Bearman discusses ‘Theory in Research’. Photo: Phillip Dawson

Associate Professor Margaret Bearman, CRADLE’s Associate Professor (Research), then provided a thought-provoking exploration of theory both in assessment research and as a broader concept. Aiming to discuss the questions of ‘what is theory?’ and ‘what is the role of theory in assessment research?’, Margaret challenged attendees to consider what theory means to them through a series of reflective discussions around conceptions and purposes of theory. Margaret discussed the ‘inherent slipperiness’ of theory, and explored theories as contested, changeable, and often highly metaphorical. Attendees were encouraged to reflect on their personal beliefs about theory, and how they may position themselves against theories in their own practice. Margaret concluded with a one-line summary of her thoughts on theory – “challenge and be challenged” – and encouraged attendees to respond with their own one-line summaries. Attendee responses included reflections on daring to explore beyond theories currently accepted within a discipline, making use of theory to conceptualise phenomena and problems, and the suggestion that ‘navel-gazing can be fruitful’.

The event concluded with CRADLE’s Associate Director, Associate Professor Phillip Dawson, outlining opportunities to collaborate with CRADLE on research. Ways to collaborate include: the CRADLE Fellows scheme; PhD opportunities; advice on projects and drafts; coherent assessment projects which align with CRADLE’s research agenda; and by attending upcoming CRADLE events. For further information about collaborative opportunities with CRADLE, please contact us at [email protected].