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The Problem of Assessment

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 Forms of Assessment

Presentations

Description

I suppose a presentation—meaning presenting the results of a project or similar to other members of the group—is really a medium rather than a method, but there are distinctive features of this kind of end product, as opposed to a written piece, which require special attention.

Indications

• Use when the skills of live presentation of material are relevant to the course outcomes. 
• and when the audience for the presentation is likely to learn something from it.

Contra-Indications

• Do not use when they are not.

Special precautions

• The rather banal "indications" and "contra-indications" above point to the fact that while practically any project or essay can be presented to the group, the skills involved in doing it may go beyond course requirements. If they do, to mark on the basis of the skill with which the presentation is conducted is to violate the principles of equal opportunities.         
• Presentations are useful for teachers –
  • because they mean that assessment can be undertaken within class time,
  • because they allow for cross-questioning of presenters by both teachers and group members,
  • because they ensure that the final presentation at least is the students's own work
  • because usually, the possibility of exposure to group censure means that deadlines are kept
  • because the presentation material is usually available for archiving for moderation

  —but none of these considerations outweigh the equal opportunities issue.

• So if you do use them, follow the rule of being clear and transparent about the assessment criteria. Except under special circumstances, use of a flashy presentation using a data projector with animation and sound should not be allowed to compensate for poverty of content.
• Unlike other forms of assessment, presentations make demands on the rest of the class, as the audience. Sitting through a series of presentations by colleagues may not be the best use of class time, and indeed may be deadly boring, so on the whole this is a method for use with fairly small groups.

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