{"id":861,"date":"2010-08-25T09:03:10","date_gmt":"2010-08-25T07:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/OEB_Newsportal\/?p=861"},"modified":"2011-08-31T09:08:46","modified_gmt":"2011-08-31T07:08:46","slug":"new-assessment-methods-for-new-ways-of-learning-%e2%80%93-oeb-session-on-innovative-eu-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oeb.global\/oeb-insights\/new-assessment-methods-for-new-ways-of-learning-%e2%80%93-oeb-session-on-innovative-eu-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"New Assessment Methods for New Ways of Learning \u2013 OEB Session on Innovative EU Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a9 Ewe Degiampietro - Fotolia.com<\/p><\/div>\n

With the advent of Web 2.0 technologies, such as user-created content or social networks, approaches to learning have changed radically \u2013 but methods of assessment have not. Today\u2019s learners pick up information in online communities from their peers. They are encouraged to collaborate, share knowledge and work in teams but, rather than assessing these skills, most institutions still focus on what students memorise for traditional exams. At OEB 2010, two sessions organised by the European Commission will elaborate on more up-to-date assessment projects, giving participants the opportunity to discuss the potential of new technologies in this field.<\/strong><\/p>\n

ICT for Learning \u2013 The European Commission\u2019s Lifelong Learning Programme<\/DIV>
With a budget of nearly seven billion euros, the new Lifelong Learning Programme (2007-2013) is made up of four sectoral programmes \u2013 Comenius (schools), Erasmus (higher education), Leonardo da Vinci (vocational training), and Grundtvig (adult education) \u2013 as well as a transversal programme that focuses on policy cooperation, languages, ICT and dissemination.<\/p>\n

The Jean Monnet Programme aims at the stimulation of teaching, reflection and debate on the European integration process at higher education institutions worldwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cKey Activity 3 ICT\u201d seeks to harness the power of technology to develop innovative education and training practices, improve access to lifelong learning, and help develop advanced management systems.<\/DIV><\/DIV><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s learning landscape provides more options than ever \u2013 and more challenges. A lot of learning takes place in informal environments on the Internet, and more and more educational institutions adopt such strategies for their own purposes. \u201cFor example, many universities are experimenting with the use of Ning and other social technologies as a complement to formal lectures,\u201d says Lieve van Den Brande, senior policy officer for ICT and learning at the European Commission\u2019s Directorate General for Education and Culture. \u201cIn addition, curricula are making increasing use of problem solving and group assignments as part of the learning process.\u201d In short, learning and teaching has been changing dramatically.<\/p>\n

The use of assessment methods, however, has not kept pace. A recent report of the EU Commission and the European Council entitled \u201cKey Competences for a Changing World\u201d<\/a> came to the conclusion that \u201cmost current assessment methods have a strong emphasis on knowledge and recall and do not sufficiently capture the crucial skills and attitudes dimension of key competences. Also, the assessment of transversal key competences and the assessment in the context of cross-curricular work appear inadequate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Self-Assessment or Formal Testing?<\/h3>\n

But how should one assess informal learning and \u201ctransversal competences,\u201d such as team work or knowledge sharing? \u201cSome academics argue that learning in peer-based communities should be judged by self-assessment and assessment by peers,\u201d Lieve van Den Brande explains. \u201cThe advantage of this approach is that it educates people to be responsible for their own learning needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other experts, however, say that these types of assessment would not work in institutional settings, such as schools and universities, where external certifications of learning according to predefined quality criteria are required.<\/p>\n

Whilst the EU report recommends that complementary assessment methodologies such as portfolios, peer assessments or project work should be developed further, Lieve van Den Brande concludes pragmatically: \u201cWhat is needed is probably a balance between the two\u201d.<\/p>\n

Assessing Individual Learners\u2019 Progress Rather than Education Programmes<\/h3>\n

At ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN, van Den Brande will organise two subsequent sessions on the role ICTs can play in assessing learning progress. In this context, assessment will be defined \u201cas the process of making judgements about individual learners\u2019 progress and achievements, rather than on the evaluation of education programmes, school performance or systems in general\u201d.<\/p>\n

The sessions will present best practice examples drawn from projects of the EU\u2019s Life Long Learning Programme and offer plenty of room for discussion. The debate will result in a set of key messages to be forwarded to policy makers, practitioners and researchers.<\/p>\n

More information about the Commission\u2019s Key Activities on ICT:
\nhttp:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/education\/lifelong-learning-programme\/doc96_en.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the advent of Web 2.0 technologies, such as user-created content or social networks, approaches to learning have changed radically \u2013 but methods of assessment have not. Today\u2019s learners pick up information in online communities from their peers. They are encouraged to collaborate, share knowledge and work in teams but, rather than assessing these skills, […]<\/p>\n

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