Objectives and assessment workshop

The goal of the Objectives and assessment workshop is to examine and improve the alignment, clarity, and learner-centeredness of course objectives and assessment.

Purpose

The workshop aims to help teacher:

• Make learning objectives concrete, understandable, and learner-centered.
• Assess the alignment between objectives and assessment.
• Identify key moments for formative assessment within the course.

Learning objectives and assessment guide student actions

Learning objectives briefly describe what students are expected to know, understand, or be able to do by the end of the course to achieve a passing grade. They act as a compass for learners, providing focus and direction. Therefore, objectives must be clear, specific, and assessable. Assessment methods also shape how students engage with the course, how they allocate time and effort to different tasks and learning activities. Students often prioritize tasks that are explicitly assessed, considering anything else as extra.

In higher education, learning objectives are often broad and abstract, describing overall outcomes rather than detailed steps. Your goal is to break down course-level objectives into more specific sub-objectives that are concrete and learner-centered.

Assessment should support the achievement of learning objectives. It plays a key role in guiding students’ learning processes and study strategies. Students align their efforts with what assessment methods emphasize. Therefore, assessment should be integrated into the teaching and learning process in a way that fosters learning. It should be formative and continuous, not just a final evaluation at the end of the course. Formative assessment allows students to evaluate their own competence and track their progress.

Assessment is always based on observation. It requires data or evidence that can be assessed in relation to learning objectives and evaluation criteria. Based on these observations, actions can be taken, whether providing guidance, feedback, or making an assessment decision.

Co-creating stronger objectives and assessment

Level 1: With genAI

Co-creation partner: Artificial Intelligence
Time required: From a few minutes to several hours, depending on how deeply you engage with AI.

• Provide genAI with your course learning objectives and ask it to break them down into smaller, easily understandable sub-objectives. For example, request that the objectives be rewritten in a way that a 20-year-old first-year student coming from vocational education could comprehend.
• Ask genAI to comment on the objectives and assessment criteria from a student’s perspective. What does genAI interpret as the expected student actions based on the objectives and criteria? Does this align with your own understanding and plan?
• Remember, you are the expert, and the final decisions are yours, not genAI’s!

Level 2: With a Colleague or Team

Co-creation partner: A colleague or your team
Time required: Approximately 1.5–2 hours

1. Schedule a meeting with the topic Objectives and assessment.
2. Gather relevant materials, including course learning objectives, assessment criteria, and learning tasks (if already defined).

Workshop flow:

• 15 min: Introduction to the workshop, reviewing key principles of learning objectives and assessment.
• 65 min: Group discussion on the alignment of objectives, assessment, and learning tasks, considering different student perspectives and the instructor’s role.
• 10 min: Workshop wrap-up and defining next steps for improvement.