Neil

Academic, Ed Dev: Uni of Bedfordshire. Runner, vegetarian. Compassionate Assessment

[Neil @ncurrant]

Academic colleague said that stressing students is a good thing to develop their resilience (in the context of making them do exams). Really?! Is anyone aware of evidence that shows stress builds resilience? Rather than the other direction of resilience helps cope with stress.

[Neil @ncurrant]

My top 10 from semi no2

[Vikki Hill @i_am_vikkic]

Pleased to share the new episode of the L&T Chat Show podcast is about #compassionate #assessment, compassion in teaching and an invitation to join some research, with @ncurrant , @i_am_vikkic and @lizbunting . Massive thanks to Roger Saunders!
https://t.co/twj1KXjf2d

[Neil @ncurrant]

@sumingkhoo @santanuvasant @LTHEchat I like that: peaceful non-cooperation. I think that is going to enter my lexicon.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@LTHEchat #lthechat thanks everyone. Super interesting to read all the responses. It is moments like this that can bring hope.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@sumingkhoo @benrjen @santanuvasant @LTHEchat I won't say what I did to circumvent the rules but if you make stupid policies expect them to be undermined.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@i_am_vikkic @SarahWolfenden @LTHEchat Thankfully, I don't think I have had to sit an exam in nearly 30 years! I generally did well at exams but still...who needs that kind of stress and anxiety.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@Danceswithcloud Yes, I feel like half my work is of the 'we need to do something now to be seen to be doing something' variety.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@sumingkhoo @santanuvasant @LTHEchat I have just been asked to doc students 5 marks if they fail to put the word count on an assessment!! I won't name the uni. But it is a new word count policy that has been introduced.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@i_am_vikkic @SarahWolfenden @LTHEchat Coming from a science background, I am equally baffled by exams!

[Neil @ncurrant]

@PenarthKate @LTHEchat Yes please!!!

[Neil @ncurrant]

@mirena07 @LTHEchat I think policies can often stem from a lack of trust in academics to do the 'right thing'.

[Paul Kleiman @DrPaulKleiman]

A5 We’ve moved way beyond the point where tinkering with the system will work. There come’s a point with any design where you’ve just got to stop, admit it’s not working, and start again. #lthechat

[Neil @ncurrant]

@EmmaKEdDev Or even celebrate / encourage failure. What do we mean by failure? How can students fail with no onward consequences?

[Neil @ncurrant]

@DrPaulKleiman Exactly, I love it when I learn something from student's work that I didn't already know.

[Neil @ncurrant]

A4 loving the examples of compassionate assessment practices and policies #lthechat

[Neil @ncurrant]

@Nasir_phd Which makes me think that we need assessment to focus more on surfacing the process and not being a product. I had a student submit a digital collage last week. It really showed her process so well.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@sumingkhoo @LTHEchat Isn't that some sort of heresy in the modern neo-liberal university?

[Neil @ncurrant]

@_PXavier @LTHEchat Yes, I think challenging the assumptions of the whole assessment system is needed, especially post-pandemic and with gen AI.

[Neil @ncurrant]

@Puiyin @Judith_ekn @LTHEchat I am starting to think compassionate assessment is a layer that can help rethink all sorts of assessment practices: authentic, inclusive, assessment for social justice etc.