News & Events

Inclusive Assessment: Theory to Practice was the theme of the UCD Teaching & Learning Symposium 2023, which took place in the UCD University Club on 26 September. This was the seventh annual symposium and the first since 2019 to be held as an in-person event. 

The symposium was opened by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Marie Clarke, who emphasised the importance of students feeling included in their assessment and their studies, while also recognising the challenges in designing assessments that are inclusive of increasingly diverse cohorts. The audience of UCD faculty and staff then heard keynote addresses by two distinguished international speakers:

Dr Joanna Tai, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE) at Deakin University, Melbourne, took part online and gave a presentation entitled 'Assessment for inclusion: promoting equity and valuing diversity in higher education'. Drawing on Australian government data on access and progression of different equity groups, and on CRADLE research, Dr Tai spoke of the need to move away from a "deficit discourse" to consider how students can demonstrate capabilities, noting that this was important for validity as well as inclusion. 

Dr Emma Medland, Senior Lecturer at the Surrey Institute of Education, University of Surrey, gave a talk entitled 'Addressing the juxtaposition of inclusive assessment through design strategies'. Dr Medland demonstrated the issues students can encounter with the "testing culture" of traditional assessment, and proposed a more collaborative approach to assessment design, based on transparency in assessment, diversification of assessment and student empowerment.

The keynote addresses were followed by an interactive session of reflection and conversation, facilitated by Dr Deirdre McGillicuddy, Assistant Professor in Education, UCD School of Education. Symposium attendees were asked to share their ideas on inclusive assessment practices that would work well in their contexts, as well as their intentions on how they would enhance inclusive assessment in their practice. Practices highlighted by attendees included: choice and variety in assessment; exemplars clarify assessment criteria as guidance; scaffolding assessment to support all students in achieving their full potential; engaging with students as partners in the co-design of rubrics; and reflection pieces as an effective assessment type.

Finally, details were announced of a call for participation in the Inclusive Assessment Workshop Series, where up to six UCD schools and programmes can apply to collaborate with UCD Teaching & Learning on local workshops to enhance inclusive assessment. Further details, including the online application form, are available on the Inclusive Assessment Workshop Series web page.

Presentations from the Symposium are available for UCD faculty and staff to access on the UCD Google Drive. (Staff UCD Connect login required)