Feedback and Assessment Seminar Series

This series of interactive seminars is designed with the Faculty’s new and early-career academics in mind. Running throughout 2024, each 2-hour session will introduce current educational research and translate this into practical approaches to managing common challenges in teaching and learning. This semester, the Feedback and Assessment Series will consist of three seminars.

Seminar 1: Effective feedback in the classroom – Tuesday 12 March, 10:00am - 12:00pm

This seminar aims to equip Business and Economics educators with strategies and techniques to provide constructive feedback that fosters learning and develops evaluative judgement. The focus is on understanding the importance of feedback in the educational process and how it can significantly influence student motivation and engagement. Participants will explore various types of feedback, including formative, summative, peer-to-peer, and self-assessment, and learn how to apply them in diverse classroom settings effectively.

Key topics include the principles of effective feedback (being specific, timely, and relevant); strategies for personalizing feedback to meet individual student needs; and techniques for ensuring feedback is received and acted upon. The seminar will also cover the use of technology to streamline the feedback process and engage students actively. Through interactive and practical exercises, you will leave with a toolkit of resources to enhance your feedback practices.

Seminar 2: Effective feedback for assessment – Tuesday 9 April 10:00am - 12:00pm

This seminar focuses on enhancing Business and Economics educators' ability to provide meaningful feedback on student assessments. Recognised as a critical component of the learning process, effective feedback is pivotal in helping students understand their performance, identify areas for improvement, and develop evaluative judgement. This seminar delves into the best practices for crafting feedback that is clear, constructive, and motivational, emphasizing the balance between positive reinforcement and critical insights.

Participants will explore techniques for delivering feedback that students can easily interpret and apply, including the use of rubrics, personalised comments, and actionable suggestions. Special attention is given to the timing and mode of feedback delivery to maximise its impact and usefulness for students. Interactive sessions will allow attendees to practice these strategies, discuss challenges and solutions in providing assessment feedback, and exchange experiences to broaden their understanding. By the end of the seminar, educators will be equipped with effective tools and strategies to enhance student learning and achievement through impactful assessment feedback.

Seminar 3: Managing group work and assessment – Tuesday 7 May 10:00am - 12:00pm

This seminar is designed to address the challenges educators face when organising, monitoring, and evaluating group projects and assignments. Recognised for enhancing collaborative skills among students, group work presents unique complexities in ensuring fair participation and accurately assessing individual contributions. This seminar provides educators with effective strategies for structuring group assignments, fostering a collaborative environment, and implementing equitable assessment methods.

Key topics include the design of group projects that encourage equal participation, techniques for resolving common group dynamics issues, and criteria for evaluating both group and individual performance. The seminar also covers the use of technology to facilitate group work and streamline the assessment process. Through practical workshops and case study analyses, participants will gain insights into creating clear expectations, promoting accountability among group members, and applying rubrics for consistent and fair assessment. Educators will leave with a toolkit of strategies to enhance student collaboration and ensure that group assessments are both effective and reflective of individual efforts.