- About this project
- Learning outcomes in the biological sciences
- Principles of assessment
- Assessment types
- Key issues
- Curriculum matters
- Examples of Practice
Enhancing assessment for diverse student groups
Students in biological sciences classes in Australian universities represent a very diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. First year biological sciences classes, in particular, are among the largest in universities across the sector. This poses particular challenges for academic staff seeking to enhance the quality of student learning and assessment in the discipline. Our interviews with students and staff revealed many examples of creative ways in which educators are rising to this challenge.
There are many sources of student diversity in Australian universities. Gender and age differences are some of the more obvious sources of diversity. Others include background factors such as rurality, indigeneity and socio-economic class. Language background and the level of parental education also contribute to the diversity in our university student population.
We met many academics who are well-informed about the diverse needs of the students with whom they work, and are highly committed to continuously improving the ways they assess students for the purposes of enhancing learning, engagement and outcomes in the biological sciences.
Our academic staff interviewees identified three key challenges commonly encountered in their experience of teaching and assessing diverse student groups in the biological sciences. These are:
- Assessing students with differing knowledge backgrounds and interests relating to the biological sciences (see Differing knowledge and interests)
- Assessing international students and those from language backgrounds other than English (see International and NESB students)
- Assessing students with diverse levels of motivation and engagement with learning (see Student motivation)
In each case, we asked for examples of how educators used assessment as a vehicle for enhancing the learning experience of each of these groups of students. Their responses, strategies and illustrative examples are provided on each of the hyperlinked pages above.