3.1.1
Research on Assessments
Research on Assessment Methods
Research on Assessment Methods
According to Rob Coe (2017), assessment is a field with lots of very good research. However, some questions are still unanswered, especially related to practical implications.


Cognitive science and testing
Cognitive science and testing
- Recalling knowledge, also referred to as ‘retrieval’ or ‘retrieval practice’, stimulates the neurological connections involved in storing that knowledge.
- Retrieving that knowledge in a variety of contexts creates new mental pathways and supports long-term learning.
- Well-made assessments can be a form of retrieval practice and also improve long-term learning.


Examples of assessment
Examples of assessment
- Direct verbal questioning.
- Self-questioning.
- Writing notes from memory.
- Using flashcards.
- Writing essays.
- Group discussion.


Interleaving and AfL
Interleaving and AfL
- Interleaving refers to sequencing learning tasks so that similar items are interspersed with different types of items, rather than being consecutive.
- E.g. if the first topic covered (1) were interleaved with the second (2) and third (3) topics, instead of block-assessing students in a sequence of 1, 2, 3 over a period of time, students would be assessed in an interleaved way (123, 123, 123).


Time to forget
Time to forget
- In linear teaching, interleaving may involve spaced retrieval practice. This means including time delays between learning and retrieval practice to give students ‘time to forget’.
- During and after teaching a topic (3), knowledge from previous topics (1,2) should be assessed, thus requiring students to retrieve previous knowledge. So, interleaved and spaced retrieval would result in a staggered approach to learning and retrieval (1, 12, 123).
- Multiple assessment methods should be used.
1Introduction to Assessment
1.1Definitions
1.2Types of Assessments
2Feedback
2.1Feedback
3Assessment Methods
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1Introduction to Assessment
1.1Definitions
1.2Types of Assessments
2Feedback
2.1Feedback
3Assessment Methods
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