Teachers and students as co-participants in the assessment process: Integrating learning and assessment for student empowerment

Timothy Moss and Sharon Thomas
University of Tasmania

Keywords: assessment; student engagement; student empowerment

Assessment in higher education is increasingly acknowledged as an integral part of the teaching and learning process, not a discrete component. Used in this way, assessment is a powerful tool in engaging students in the content and process of their learning. However, despite recent changes in the higher education system leading to an increased focus on student-centred approaches to learning, approaches to assessment have not yet paralleled this shift in practice or realised the potential for student engagement at a mainstream level.

This paper discusses the development and implementation of a cross-disciplinary undergraduate unit designed to engage and empower students as self-regulated, active learners. Specifically, the central role of integrated learning and assessment tasks in this process of empowerment is explored. Multiple sources of evidence are drawn upon to show that when teachers and students engage in the assessment process as co-participants, powerful, authentic, and empowering learning takes place.