Attendance policies have long been a point of contention in higher education. For some institutions, enforcing attendance is seen as a vital measure to ensure students remain engaged, connected, and on track. For others, such mandates are outdated remnants of schooling that prioritise compliance over genuine learning. At the centre […]
Academic Identity & Professional Learning - Assessment & Feedback - Innovation & Future of Higher Education - Reflections & Provocations - Student Learning & Engagement - Teaching Practice
Why Are We Locking Students Into Early Judgments? Rethinking Point-in-Time Assessment
In my previous post, I explored the distinction between assessment and assessing. Assessment is usually the fixed product, a grade, a test, an assignment. While assessing is the ongoing process of feedback, dialogue, and growth. I also raised the possibility that we might need different language altogether, such as narrative evaluation, to better describe this developmental process. But […]
Assessment & Feedback - Reflections & Provocations - Student Learning & Engagement
Assessing vs Assessment – Are They Really the Same?
In higher education, the terms assessing and assessment are often used as if they mean the same thing. At first glance, both relate to the act of “judging” student learning. However, a closer look reveals an important difference, one that influences how students experience learning and how educators design their […]
Assessment & Feedback - Reflections & Provocations - Student Learning & Engagement
The False Precision of Grades: What Are We Really Measuring?
For centuries, grading has been the dominant language of education. From Yale’s early descriptors in the 1700s to the familiar A–F scale, grades were never created to capture learning but to sort students. Despite their longevity, grades remain a blunt instrument, reducing the complexity of the student experience into a […]
Assessment & Feedback - Innovation & Future of Higher Education - Student Learning & Engagement
From Passive Learners to Active Creators: The Role of Digital Storytelling in Higher Education
Higher education faces a critical juncture with rising student enrolments, diverse student populations, and AI’s growing role in assessments. These challenges demand reforms in both current and past educational structures, moving toward a model better suited to today’s students, job market, and societal needs. One issue is the persistent view […]