REFLECTION

First, what have you been discussing during the day?

Topics1. Judging FHEQ level of demand2. Lack of alignment3. Influence of input by supervisors4. (Not) being a referee or adjudicator5. Group work in which outcomes are

shared6. Collegial vs formal advice/reporting7. Incompetence8. Disappearing recommendations

External Examining

My responses to the challenges – drafted before today!

I’ll maybe just select a few.......

Problem Area 1: FHEQ level

Explore four sources of data The basis for assessment The evidence in (hopefully varied)

students’ work Discussion with teacher about the

rationale of the assessment Discussion (anonymously) with

students - after results decided

Problem Area 2: Alignment Check learning outcomes against

demand of assessments – and teaching plans; in particular.....

Check demand of assessment against declared learning outcomes

Watch out for claimed outcomes not explicitly assessed

Watch out for assessed outcomes not quite in accordance with specification

Problem Area 3: Supervision Ask supervisors to append a note of

the advice and assistance they have given to students during the year

Ask students to initial this, or comment upon it

Suggest that this is an essential input to judgement, internal and external, if creativity and problem-solving are to be judged

Problem Area 4: Refereeing

Insist that your job is to advise the VC about the integrity and rigour of the process; and that you can't do that if you are a major player

Offer your advice on how problems of this type can be handled by the Board

Ask the Board to follow that advice, or decide, with reasons, not to!

Problem Area 5: Group work Acknowledge this as a sector-wide

issue, to be tackled collegially Suggest requirements include keeping

of records which identify who did what – with qualitative self- and peer-assessment accordingly

Suggest rewording of module descriptor, to reflect varying areas of development and achievement

Problem Area 6: Private/public?

First priority is fairness to current cohort, according to their experience

Next is collegial discussion of need for change and form of change

If this is agreed, and seems likely to be in place for next year, so report - but only in general terms

If a problem persists, report detail formally and illuminatively to the QA system

Consult a friend?

Problem 7: Incompetence

Present observed facts for which data is available

Offer no judgement Ask for/expect a judgement to be

made and action taken by the line manager

Decide if you do or do not support that decision

Problem Area 8: Lack of action

Sleep on draft correspondence Concentrate on facts, not judgements State clear recommendations Use recorded delivery Ask for decision on recommendations Move steadily up seniority levels Maybe opt to resign, stating why That usually leads to prompt action

Two last questions to wrestle over, then