Providing exemplars in the learning environment : the case for and against

Contemporary education has moved towards the requirement of express articulation of assessment criteria and standards in an attempt to provide legitimacy in the measurement of student performance/achievement. Exemplars are provided examples of best or worst practice in the educational environment, which are designed to assist students to increase their understanding of particular skills, content or knowledge in any given situation and articulate established criteria and standards. This article examines both the case for and the case against their use in any learning environment and includes issues such as students' desire for exemplars can lead to copying or plagiarism.