A Bright Path to Learning

This project focuses on conducting high-quality assessments in difficult-to-assess learning areas. The two-stage method of educational assessment and measurement, used in the online Brightpath assessment application project, assesses student work in learning areas that involve extended performances. Assessing extended performances can be a challenging task for teachers, who typically have to rely on rubrics or scoring keys to assess students’ work samples in these areas. The use of rubrics has been shown to have numerous shortcomings.

Research conducted by Dr Stephen Humphry from UWA and Dr Sandy Heldsinger from Brightpath applies the concept of pairwise comparisons to develop a novel two-stage assessment approach for these difficult areas.

In Stage 1, assessment scales are constructed by providing teachers with exemplars of student work and asking them to make judgements about these in a pairwise format. Statistical and qualitative analysis is then conducted to select sets of exemplars for use as ‘anchor points’ on an assessment scale, referred to as the ‘teacher’s ruler’. The resulting scale makes teachers’ jobs in assessing other work samples simpler and more efficient, while still reliable and valid.

The approach involves teachers from the outset and harnesses teacher judgement in an easy-to-use online platform. The outcome is an assessment method that is straightforward, accurate, reliable and applicable in a wide range of learning areas.