Page 55 - Postgraduate Handbook 2024-25

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information that can help both students and instructors Roles and Responsibilities
to build on the strengths and remedy the weaknesses.
The task of achieving excellence in assessment requires
• Summative assessment, on the other hand, is usually
carried out at the end of the semester and is used collaboration among four parties: the Manager of
the Center for Faculty Development, College Deans,
to determine the extent to which the students have
achieved the course learning objectives or outcomes Department Chairs/Program Directors, Faculty and
Students.
(grading function). It helps instructors make decisions
and judgments for purposes of student promotion 1. The role of the Director of the Center for Faculty
and/or graduation. Final exams and projects, among Development is to plan faculty development activities on
other forms, serve this purpose. student assessment, such as workshops and seminars.
• Formative assessment, in contrast to summative 2. The role of the College Dean is:
assessment, is conducted throughout the semester and
is used to enhance the learning and teaching process. • to ensure that colleges have their own discipline-
Information provided by this ongoing assessment helps specific assessment guidelines and procedures
students improve their study skills, learning strategies that are consistent with ADU Student Assessment
and achievement, thus support ongoing student guidelines;
progress, and helps instructors diagnose and respond
to student needs (development and improvement • to ensure that these guidelines and procedures are
function). periodically reviewed; and
• to ensure that departments use assessment results
Assessment Methods for program improvement.
Accurate and sound assessment requires that a variety 3. The role of the department chair/program director/
of appropriate assessment methods be used and aligned coordinator is:
with the intended learning outcomes. There are generally
two main assessment methods: traditional and alternative/ • to collaborate with faculty members in developing
authentic. The former includes tools such as paper-and- assessment guidelines and procedures that are
pencil tests and exams while the latter includes tools similar appropriate to their major fields;
to performance tasks, essays, presentations, projects, • to ensure that faculty members implement these
practical work, case studies, reports, portfolios. The choice guidelines and procedures;
among these tools depends on the discipline, the nature
of the individual course as well as the intended learning • to ensure that faculty members inform students of
outcomes. assessment criteria;
The following are the assessment tools that ADU faculty • to review assessment methods and criteria; and
members can choose from in assessing their student • to ensure that assessment results are used for
performance and achievement: continuous improvement of learning and instruction
• Tests and exams 4. The role of faculty members is:
• Assignments/homework
• Projects • to inform students at the beginning of the semester of
the assessment methods and criteria that will be used
• Reports in assessing their performance and achievement;
• Presentations • to provide students with feedback on their performance
• Essays and how it can be improved. Effective feedback should
• Papers be provided in a timely and constructive manner and
• Case studies includes both comments and grades.
• Exhibitions Late Submission Coursework
• Portfolios The due date for each class assignment or project should
• Self-assessment be clearly indicated to the students in the course outline.
• Capstone course or graduation project Assignments received more than two weeks after the due
• Performance through observing and judging date should not be accepted.
1. Submission dates may be extended in exceptional

Abu Dhabi University | Postgraduate Handbook 2024 - 2025