This Masterclass will be delivered by Dr Stephanie McBurney* and Dr Sue Whittle*,University of Leeds.

Many in the higher education sector are calling for a change in approach to assessment and feedback, with a shift from predominantly traditional methods to a more varied approach (Medland, 2016). Student opinion is, in part, driving this change as assessment and feedback have been identified as a source of dissatisfaction (HEFCE 2014).

In this session we will present work to inform evidence-based change to assessment and feedback, undertaken from the student perspective. We will present qualitative and quantitative data on students’ understanding and expectations of the role of assessment and ways through which feedback contributes to learning. We will discuss their perception and understanding of ‘fairness’ in relation to assessment, how students value different types of feedback and timeliness of feedback.

We will describe how we are using the results of this study in our own Faculty to drive changes to assessment and feedback practice. Finally, we will stimulate discussion with the audience around student expectations, their engagement with and the perceived value of, different types and approaches to assessment and feedback.

This session is central to effective delivery of higher education programmes and so will be of interest to colleagues in both disciplines and services across the institution.

The main themes of the Education Strategy this event will respond to are:

• Teaching Excellence
• Learning Environment

Dr Sue Whittle - Biography

Sue is an Associate Professor in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Leeds, where she teaches undergraduate students on numerous programmes in the Faculties of Biological Sciences and Medicine. She has a wide range of experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of learning & teaching, and mentoring and supporting colleagues. She is currently Programme Leader for BSc Biological Sciences and Biotechnology with Enterprise programmes, and Co-Chair of the Faculty Athena Swan group.

Her research interests have centred on transitions, both between school and university and during undergraduate programmes, and the development of students' transferable and subject-specific skills, both before entry to university and during undergraduate study. Recent projects have included the design, implementation and evaluation of on-line resources to support the development of students’ laboratory skills (http://www.virtual-labs.leeds.ac.uk/), Career Planning, and support of returning second year students. Sue is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an HEA Accreditor, and was awarded University Student Education Fellowships in 2010 and 2014.

 

Dr Stephanie McBurney - Biography
Stephanie is an Associate Professor in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Leeds. She has a wide range of experience in the development and evaluation of taught student provision and the management of student education.

Her pedagogical research focusses on a) the employability and professional development of undergraduate and Masters level students b) Personal tutoring and academic advising and c) understanding the perceived role assessment and feedback contributes to student learning. Recent projects include an interdisciplinary project to investigate the reasons why students do not engage in defined initiatives designed to enhance learning and graduate outcomes; evaluating the impact of Masters-level study in supporting the transition of postgraduates into employment and enhancing the Personal tutorial system.

Stephanie has been awarded a number of awards and grants to support her research interests, including a University Student Education Fellowship in 2013 and Strategic fund developments in 2015.