Improving staff practice in criterion-referenced assessment: implementing change in University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Business

Abstract

Using the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Faculty of Business as a case study, this paper explores a strategy for improving staff practice of criterion-referenced assessment. There are increasing demands by stakeholders, such as government and business, for Australian universities to demonstrate improved learning and teaching, as well as graduate outcomes. A recent review of assessment practice in the Faculty of Business found that staff generally misuse assessment criteria because of basic misunderstandings about their definition and purpose. These findings are a serious concern for the Faculty. Firstly, because misuse of assessment criteria affects its ability to demonstrate desired learning and teaching outcomes and, secondly, because analysis of recent student survey data in Australia shows a link between the student experience and the quality of assessment practices, particularly highlighting the importance of fairness and transparency in the communication of academic expectations of student performance.