The central role that assessment plays is recognised in higher education, in particular how formative feedback guides learning. A model for effective feedback practice is used to argue that, in current schemes, formative feedback is often not usable because it is strongly linked to external criteria and standards, rather than to the processes of…

The goal of this article is to contribute to the validation of a self-evaluation method, which can be used by schools to evaluate the quality of their Competence Assessment Program (CAP). The outcomes of the self-evaluations of two schools are systematically compared: a novice school with little experience in competence-based education and…

This study looks at the fairness of assessing learning journals both as the fairness in creating a valid and robust marking process as well as how different student groups may have unfair disadvantages in performing well in reflective assessment tasks. The fairness of a marking process is discussed through reflecting on the practical process and…

This guide is designed as a resource for leaders and evaluators of K-12 online learning programs. In this guide, the term "online learning" is used to refer to a range of education programs and resources in the K-12 arena, including distance learning courses offered by universities, private providers, or teachers at other schools;…

Compared the final exam performance of two classes of accounting students based on the method of course assessment used; one class received formative assessment with feedback prior to the final exam, while the previous class did not. Findings seemed to suggest that changing assessment to a formative mode can improve students' performance. (EV)

The purpose of this issue of "New Directions for Evaluation" is to examine, comparatively, the practical application of theorists' approaches to evaluation by examining four evaluations of the same case. The thought is that when asked to evaluate the same program (holding the case constant), the practical distinctions between theorists' approaches…

This study compared the impact of three forms of evaluation on the mastery of course content by special education majors. Results indicated higher levels of mastery were achieved by students during short- and long-term formative evaluation conditions, relative to summative evaluation. Students also viewed formative evaluation formats more…