March 2007
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| IEAMail, Issue 8 | March 2007 |
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Welcome Welcome to IEAMail, the topical monthly members e-newsletter, carrying news and views from the Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA). Content:
New -
IEA Summer Assessment Conference
New - IEA Summer Assessment Conference The Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA) is pleased to announce the dates for the National Assessment summer conference on Standards in Assessment and E-assessment. The IEA will be hosting the 2-day conference, to be held in London at the Novotel Euston on 3rd and 4th May 2007. The conferences will provide you with an ideal opportunity to hear first hand about the key events shaping the education and assessment community over the forthcoming year including the 14-19 white paper and specialised Diplomas, the introduction of Progress Checks in schools in the autumn of 2007 as well as issues surrounding the practical implementation of e-assessment in your school or college. Along with keynote sessions, delegates will also be given an opportunity to attend a series of seminars on the latest thinking on assessment hosted by leading organisations such as AQA, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Cambridge Assessment, the National Assessment Agency and NFER. Guest speakers include:
Dr. Kathryn Ecclestone, Nottingham University IEA members pay just £50 per day or £75 for both days, excluding accommodation; non-members £150 per day. To find out more about the conference and how to book your place, please follow the link below.
Institute News - Milestone Membership! The Institute of Educational Assessors, launched in May 2006, is pleased to announce that they have reached their first year target of 3500 membership applications - two months early! This shows a genuine interest in an organisation that supports the professional role of those from the assessment community and is a positive sign for the IEA moving forward.
Institute News - Education Show: 22 - 24 March Thousands of people connected to the education community attended the annual Education Show held at the NEC in Birmingham last week. As the profile of the IEA has risen over the previous twelve months, so interest in what the IEA offers has increased. "This was our best year at the Ed. Show," said Head, David Wright. "Not only did we generate more interest from the education and assessment communities, we signed more members than we had in the previous two years at the event. Particularly encouraging was the interest shown by students and NQTs. More than 100 students signed as members over the three days."
Institute News - Members keen for IEA to develop a formalised CPD Scheme Throughout March an encouraging number of members responded to an initial consultation on the proposed implementation of a formalised CPD scheme for members. The consultation was located within the Member area and all Associate Members were invited to comment. It outlined a scheme that would enable members to evidence their assessment-based competencies (and address developmental needs) against the IEA Professional Framework via personalised ePortfolios located within the Member area on the website. An encouraging number of members responded with 84% of respondents agreeing that a formalised CPD scheme would be a significant member benefit and that such a scheme should contribute to increasing the overall quality of educational assessment carried out by IEA members. 97% of respondents agreed that the proposed scheme should be linked directly to the competencies contained within IEA Professional Framework and approximately the same number of respondents believed the ePortfolio tool should enable possible entry to Member and Fellow grades. Although the consultation period is now over members are still encouraged to read the consultation document located within the Member area on the IEA website
Institute News - Make the Grade The forthcoming issue of Make the Grade contains some exciting materials, including a debate about the use of Multiple Choice Questions. There is an article by the Professor of Education at Queen's University, Belfast, discussing the professionalism of assessment. There is a profile of Dr. Kathryn Ecclestone from Nottingham University, an article describing the use of the new formative framework for assessment and how this can be applied in any school, plus all the usual features. To view past issues of our termly magazine please follow the link below.
Institute News - Member offer - 25% off Testbase and Exampro products The IEA is keen to help you compile fit-for-purpose test, homework and training material and has negotiated a 25% discount on Testbase and Exampro products. Testbase is a compendium of expertly-indexed QCA key stage 1, 2 and 3 optional, progress and national test material (individual questions and mark schemes with the analysis of pupil performance) which can be searched and recompiled into tests, homeworks or training material. Recent versions of Testbase products have included whiteboard-enabled material and cross-keystage databases designed to encourage formative assessment. Exampro products are compendia of expertly-indexed AQA examination material (questions, examiners' reports, mark schemes etc.) which can be searched and recompiled into tests, homeworks or training material in minutes. There are over 30 different products covering the Sciences, Mathematics, Business, ICT and Computing at A Level and/or GCSE.
Institute News - IEA Knowledge Centre The IEA website contains a wealth of assessment-based information, and the majority of the knowledge-based material is based in the Knowledge Centre section. This part of the website includes: Articles - This section of the Knowledge Centre includes assessment-focused article topics including access arrangements,validation, and ten top tips for examiners. Read more ... IEA Professional Framework - The IEA Professional Framework highlights the skills and competencies required to develop or maintain assessment skills of the highest order. It offers a unique opportunity for you to analyse and explore current assessment competencies and identify any skill gaps. Read more ... IEA Research Database (Powered by EBSCO) - This resource enables free access to a huge collection of articles from assessment-related journals including the Assessment Journal, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy and Practice, Assessment Update and Educational Assessment*. Read more ... (*Please note that some journals are pay-per-view) Publisher and resource provider discounts - Discounts from reputable companies including Harcourt, Taylor & Francis, Butterworth & Heinnemann, Ginn, Harcourt Assessment and Routledge. All discounts start at least 15% plus free postage and packing. Read more ...
Institute News -The Examination Process Explained The IEA has outlined the exam process starting from the setting of exam policies and examinations to the remarking and appeals procedures. Following on from last month where we covered the first stage of the exam process, Setting Policy, we continue with: Stage 2 - Regulating the system As with all government departments, the DfES cannot do all the work required to ensure policies are implemented effectively itself. For this reason it mandates dedicated regulatory authorities to look after the examination and assessment system. They monitor standards and quality, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal. The key regulator is the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), whose work governs the setting and marking of all general qualifications and national tests in England.
CPD - Events and Training Course Calendar Each month the IEA communicates educational assessment focused events and training courses that are taking place around the UK. Higher Education Academy's HE in FE 'Assessment - National Events 2007'. 30th March - Brighton and Hove College These one-day events are intended for HE in FE lecturers and managers to learn about the latest developments in assessment, a theme defined in the QAA Handbook for Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review (IQER) as "... the element of higher education most in need of development in reviews at the subject level". For further information about the events please contact EIAT by email at info@eiatconsultancy.com or phone 01484 487994. Training providers. Please contact info@ioea.org.uk if you would like to promote your courses within this section of IEAMail. Members should be aware that the IEA is only communicating these events to its members and not endorsing them.
Assessment News - And Finally... Daily Mail (Main), 16 March 2007 Soaring numbers of teenagers are cheating in exams using mobile phones they have smuggled past invigilators, according to official figures today. A record 1,276 GCSE and A-level pupils sneaked electrical gadgets into their exams last summer, with mobiles the top choice. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) said 4,757 pupils sitting exams last summer were penalised for 'malpractice'.
Let us know what you think of the e-newsletter and any features you'd like to see in future issues. If you're feeling creative and would like to contribute an article, please send an email to info@ioea.org.uk. Until next time...
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