Assessing the Assesments: Evidencing and Benchmarking Student Learning Outcomes in Chemistry: Final Report 2018

The Australian higher education system faces numerous challenges as it moves towards a standards based paradigm. A critical issue that must be given consideration in this shift are assessment strategies and practices - these must be fit for purpose and provide evidence that students have met disciplinary threshold learning outcomes. Key issues addressed in this project are (1) the development of a valid and reliable framework to determine whether an assessment item provides evidence of achievement of one or more Chemistry Threshold Learning Outcomes, (2) the development of an extensive catalogue of exemplary assessment items covering all Chemistry Threshold Learning Outcomes that will benefit all chemistry teaching staff and (3) recognition that international standards receive due consideration given the demands that will be placed on our graduates and institutions to compete in a global marketplace. These issues will be addressed by building on collaborative work within a broad coalition of chemistry academics and through international linkages.