University assessment and quality assurance

Strategies to improve university assessment for students and educators. Here, academics offer guidance on assessment design, covering formative, summative and diagnostic approaches, authentic assessment and how to give useful feedback. You will also find advice on exam preparation, ungrading, managing GenAI, preventing cheating and upholding academic integrity.

By Eliza.Compton , 25 June, 2024

RIP assessment?

Illustration of human and robot in an arm wrestle

How can educators make learning and human intelligence visible in the age of GenAI? Abby Osborne and Christopher Bonfield outline a model to rethink assessment and reward non-AI knowledge and understanding

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 24 June, 2024

To build resilience, we need to embrace failure in the classroom and beyond

A woman massages her temples in front of a desktop computer

Let’s redefine failure by changing the way we teach, assess and support students and staff. Ibham Veza, Mhadi A. Ismael and Taib Iskandar Mohamad outline how

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien , 20 June, 2024

With AI at their fingertips, are students still learning?

The ubiquity of artificial intelligence may be affecting students’ cognitive development. Gareth Morris and Bamidele Akinwolemiwa consider how to address this

Reading time

3minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 14 June, 2024

Tips on implementing a more agile and responsive assessment extensions process

Applying for and managing of extensions for certain assessments within higher education can be time-consuming and stressful for students and staff. Read about how UEA has implemented a more agile process.

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien , 24 May, 2024

A whole-organisation approach to digital upskilling is the way forward

An illustration of figures loading cogs, books and a lightbulb into a giant head

The challenge of digital transformation is one universities must rise to, or be left behind. Amanda Taylor-Beswick advocates for an organisation-wide approach

Reading time

5minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 22 May, 2024

An assessment design that promotes learning and academic integrity

Two male Asian students working together

Identity-verified assessment can be used alongside online tasks to check students’ understanding and foster collaborative learning, writes Carl Sherwood

Reading time

3minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 21 May, 2024

Moving from individual contributions to team achievements in group projects

Putting the emphasis on a deliberate, reflective approach that emphasises clear goals and active engagement is a better way to prepare students for teamwork in their future careers, write William Owen and Leah Chambers

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 17 May, 2024

The (AI) sky isn’t falling

Students using generative AI to write their essays is a problem, but it isn’t a crisis, writes Christopher Hallenbrook. We have the tools to tackle the issue of artificial intelligence

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 15 May, 2024

AI did not disturb assessment – it just made our mistakes visible

If educators don’t understand the learning processes, they also miss the reasons why students cheat, writes Margault Sacré. Here, she offers an approach to motivate and benchmark progress

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 14 May, 2024

Leverage large language models to assess soft skills in lifelong learning

Leadership and critical-thinking skills are difficult to measure. Here, Jonna Lee offers case studies that test the idea of integrating large language models into assessment practices as a feedback tool to empower both students and instructors

Reading time

4minutes

University assessment and quality assurance