MA International Education (TESOL) / Course details

This unit offers an in-depth exploration of assessment principles and practices in international educational contexts, with a particular focus on progressive assessment methods. Emphasis is placed on understanding the influence of global, national, and local contexts on assessment practices and fostering culturally responsive, ethical, and effective assessment strategies.
Designed for a hybrid and blended learning approach, emphasis will be on exploring theories of assessment in international contexts, developing practical assessment skills based on core principles, making it suitable for those new to assessment or looking to deepen their grounding in international education, engaging with application-focused learning, emphasising the implementation of assessment strategies and progressive practices, and focusing on skills development in recording, reporting, and using digital assessment tools effectively. 

The course centres on foundational and applied aspects of assessment within the international education field. It offers a structured, theory-to-practice approach, ideal for examining core concepts and theories before moving into specific applications. Students would likely engage in:
This course unit aims to:

- develop students’ critical understanding of educational concepts and theories, enabling them to analyse assessment practices in international contexts
- enhance students’ ability to design and implement progressive assessment practices, focusing on effective recording and reporting processes
- equip students’ with the digital skills necessary to utilise modern assessment tools and techniques, fostering proficiency in integrating technology into assessment practices
- promote culturally responsive and ethical assessment strategies, ensuring students can apply these principles within diverse educational settings and understand the impact of global, national, and local contexts on education.

The course unit will also support reflection on and practical skills development in relation to the following focus areas:
- foundations of assessment in international contexts
- progressive assessment practices
- digital tools and techniques for assessment
- culturally responsive and ethical assessment

The course centres on foundational and applied aspects of assessment within the international education field. It offers a structured, theory-to-practice approach, ideal for examining core concepts and theories before moving into specific applications. Students would likely engage in:
This course unit aims to:

- develop students’ critical understanding of educational concepts and theories, enabling them to analyse assessment practices in international contexts
- enhance students’ ability to design and implement progressive assessment practices, focusing on effective recording and reporting processes
- equip students’ with the digital skills necessary to utilise modern assessment tools and techniques, fostering proficiency in integrating technology into assessment practices
- promote culturally responsive and ethical assessment strategies, ensuring students can apply these principles within diverse educational settings and understand the impact of global, national, and local contexts on education.

The course unit will also support reflection on and practical skills development in relation to the following focus areas:
- foundations of assessment in international contexts
- progressive assessment practices
- digital tools and techniques for assessment
- culturally responsive and ethical assessment

12 weeks of teaching (Lecture – Online 1 hour(s); Tutorial – Face to Face on campus 2 hour(s) per week using a hybrid/blended classroom approach with assigned readings, videos, or group activities before/after class
 

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key concepts, theories, and principles of assessment in international educational contexts
• Analyse the impact of global, national, and local contexts on assessment practices and educational outcomes.
• Recognise the principles and practices of culturally responsive and ethical assessment, and their significance in diverse educational settings.

• Critically evaluate various assessment practices and theories to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and applicability in international contexts.
• Engage in reflective practice to continually improve assessment strategies and adapt them to meet diverse student needs.
• Develop innovative solutions for assessment challenges, incorporating progressive methods and technologies
   

• Design and implement effective formative and summative assessment strategies tailored to various educational settings.
• Utilise digital tools and platforms proficiently for assessment, recording, and reporting processes, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.
• Apply ethical principles in the development and implementation of assessments, ensuring fairness and trustworthiness.

• Enhance employability by developing the ability to create and execute effective assessment plans in diverse educational environments.
• Increase digital literacy by mastering the use of contemporary digital tools for educational assessment and management.
• Cultivate a strong sense of social responsibility by applying culturally responsive and ethical assessment practices, ensuring inclusivity and equity in education.

Online within Faculty guidelines

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Broadfoot, P. and Black, P. (2004). Redefining assessment? The first ten years of assessment in education. Assessment in education: Principles, policy & practice, 11(1), pp.7-26.

Brown, G.T., Gebril, A. and Michaelides, M.P. (2019). Teachers' conceptions of assessment: A global phenomenon or a global localism. In Frontiers in Education(4), p.16). Frontiers Media SA.

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Kundu, A. and Bej, T. (2021). Experiencing e-assessment during COVID-19: an analysis of Indian students' perception. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 15(2), pp.114-134.

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Manzi, J., García, M.R. and Taut, S. eds. (2021). Validity of educational assessments in Chile and Latin America. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

Nkealah, N. (2023). Unravelling an assessment puzzle: reflections on reconciling effective assessment and workload management in South African higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 48(8), 1092–1102.