Trying to be helpful to pupils while assessing their understanding could actually be counter-productive.
Read MoreUsing badges
The attractive thing about badges is that a school can invent their own categories and achievement levels.
Read MoreThe problems with rubrics
Rubrics look like an easy way to tackle assessment. But they can be deceptive in that respect, and can cause the unwary to slip up.
Read MoreHow to create a grade-prediction system in Excel, and save yourself loads of time (Updated)
Spotting the unexpected results of mock exams of scores or even hundreds of students need no longer be a nightmare.
Read MoreOn this day #1: Assessment
Why bother with theories of assessment? Surely all that matters is whether or not it works?
Read MoreThe trouble with rubrics UPDATED
Rubrics look like an easy way to tackle assessment. But they can be deceptive in that respect, and can cause the unwary to slip up. This article was published on this day 3 years ago. I’ve had to clean up a few links and delete some out-of-date references, but otherwise the article still makes some useful points about assessing Computing and related subjects using rubrics.
Read MoreAssessing Computing and ICT in a post-Levels world
Several years on from the removal of levels, assessment — especially in Computing and ICT — is still a hot topic.
Read MoreAssessment and the black swan problem: a new free resource
A new, free, resource.
I've been thinking about, and running courses on, assessment for a long time. In a mini essay called Assessment and the black swan problem, I discuss an issue that I think receives scant attention. In this short article I tell you how you can get hold of the essay.
Read More
It was much easier in the old days!
More assessment resources, and a change of cover
I've been adding resources to the list for my forthcoming course, and changing the cover of my book.
Read More
But does she understand what she's doing? Photo by Gerd Altmann.
Collating resources for my Assessment in Computing course
I'll be running a course in Assessing Computing soon. What are the challenges in compiling a list of recommended resources for course particpants?
Read More
12 things I've learnt about assessing Computing and ICT
I've been thinking about, doing, and running courses in the art and science of assessing what kids know, understand and can do when it comes to Computing and ICT for a long time. Here are 12 things I've learnt.
Read More4 things I've learnt about assessing Computing and ICT
Assessing pupils' ability in Computing or ICT is not easy. Here are four things I've learnt about it.
Read More
Such a shame that we can't look inside kids' heads. It would make assessment so much easier!
5 articles on assessment and assessing computing
How to assess pupils in Computing, marking, evaluation -- here are 5 articles that I hope you'll find challenging, thought-provoking and perhaps even useful!
Read MorePerverse incentives in assessment
Trying to be helpful to pupils while assessing their understanding could actually be counter-productive.
Read MoreHow to create a grade-prediction system in Excel, and save yourself loads of time
Spotting the unexpected results of mock exams of scores or even hundreds of students need no longer be a nightmare.
Read MoreLevels in Computing? I thought they'd gone!
Updated! When it comes to assessing ICT and Computing, it's worth pointing out that "solutions" which look both comprehensive and easy to implement are not necessary either, when you start to get down to considering them in depth.
Read MoreWe need to talk about ed tech
When it comes to ed tech systems, nothing beats a good conversation.
Read More
Open badges in a nutshell. (c) @bryanMMathers. Used with permission through a CC-BY-ND licence.
Personalising Computing assessment with badges
The attractive thing about badges is that a school can invent their own categories and achievement levels.
Read MoreProfessional judgement in assessing Computing
“OK, then. What do you think about this?”
I was talking to the delegates on a course I was running entitled Assessing Computing. We were discussing sources of evidence of pupils having learnt stuff.
“What if you took the view: I’m a professional, and I’ll know it when I see it?”
The reactions of the class were very interesting.
Assessing Information Technology in 1995
Just in case you thought the difficulties of assessing pupils’ attainment in Information Technology are a new thing, and how terrible Levels were (are?), I thought you might like to read a report dating from 1995.