What is it about?

In our experience paper, we introduce a concept we've termed 'diverging assessments'. These are innovative assessments crafted to become uniquely tailored to each student, while starting from a common foundational structure. We've implemented diverging assessments in areas such as computer networks, operating systems, ethical hacking, and software development.

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Why is it important?

In our reflection on implementing these assessments across five different courses in four universities, we've observed significant benefits. Diverging assessments have proven to enhance student learning experiences and engagement. They also effectively uphold academic integrity, a vital aspect in today's education, especially with the increasing availability of advanced technological tools. This approach has allowed us to create a learning environment that is both challenging and conducive to personal growth for our students.

Perspectives

With generative AI and collusion much harder to police, especially in uninvigilated assessments, new approaches to ensure authentic assessment are required. We've developed a novel approach that blends cooperative learning with individual accountability. Our method enables students to collaboratively engage and learn the core concepts, yet it necessitates that they complete their assessments independently. This is due to the inherently individualised nature of our proposed assessment model. By doing so, we not only encourage collaborative learning but also ensure that each student's work is a genuine reflection of their understanding and abilities. This balance is crucial in maintaining academic integrity in a rapidly evolving educational environment, increasingly influenced by advanced technologies.

David Paul
University of New England

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Diverging assessments: What, Why, and Experiences, March 2024, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3626252.3630832.
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