Bringing about a positive shift in the culture of assessments
Introduction
Assessments constitute an integral part of the teaching-learning process. The word ‘assessment’ has taken on a variety of meanings over the years. These varied meanings and uses have moved our focus away from the central role that assessments should play in educational institutions which is to systematically analyse information and evidence to improve student learning and institutional practices.
In such a context, there is a pressing need to move towards competency-based assessments that are focused on enhancing students’ higher-order thinking skills, such as analytical ability, critical thinking, and creativity.
With assessment gaining priority as an effective instrument to aid learning, it becomes crucial to adapt existing assessment practices to better suit the changing contexts. This in turn would require practitioners ranging from teachers, teacher educators, school leaders, education functionaries and other specialists in the field to have a holistic understanding of the domain of educational assessments.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Education- Educational Assessment to be offered by Azim Premji University aims to build capabilities among key stakeholders by providing knowledge, skills and dispositions that are necessary for planning, designing, and utilising assessments in order to bring about a positive shift in the culture of assessments.
Over the years, Azim Premji University has been extensively involved in assessment reforms across various states and institutions in the country. To know more about our work in assessment please click here.
The programme will enable participants to:
- develop a comprehensive understanding of assessment concepts, principles, approaches, and their role in improving the quality of education.
- design valid and reliable assessment tools such as-competency based test papers, projects, portfolios, rubrics, checklists, group assessment and self-assessment.
- utilise assessment results to improve students’ learning and overall classroom processes.
- design large-scale assessment with a specific focus on interpreting data and drawing inferences about assessment quality using classical test theory and item response theory.
The programme is designed for professionals working in the area of education for at least 2 years.
- Teachers, academic coordinators, and head teachers.
- Teacher educators.
- Curriculum designers, test paper developers, textbook writers.
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in any discipline with a working knowledge of English (reading, writing, and speaking).
- The PG Diploma consists of 4 certificate programmes of 6 credits each. Completing all 4 certificates is mandatory for awarding the PG Diploma.
- Each certificate programme will be offered in a blended mode with webinars and on-campus contact classes.
- Out of the 4 certificates, the first one on Perspectives of Assessment is mandatory to complete as a pre-requisite for all subsequent certificates. This includes both the weekly webinars and 5‑day contact classes at the University campus.
- For the remaining 3 certificates, participants can take it in any order between 2 calendar years of starting the 1st batch of the program i.e. between Feb 2024– Jan 2026.
- While participants are encouraged to attend contact classes for all 4 certificates, attending at least 2 of them is compulsory for awarding the PG Diploma (certificate 1+ any one of the remaining 3 certificates).
- For 2 out of 4 certificates, those unable to attend the contact classes, will have a choice to work on extended projects in offline mode from their locations.
ADMISSION PROCESS
- Step‑1: Online application form with statement of purpose.
- Step‑2: Panel Interview in online mode.
FEES
- Fees for the PG Diploma programme — INR 90,000 (incl. GST)
The PG Diploma programme (24 credits) includes mandatory completion of all four Certificates (Certificates 1,2,3 and 4).
- Fees for the Certificate programmes — INR 27,000 (incl. GST) per certificate
Each Certificate programme is of 6 credits.
The fees for both PG Diploma and Certificate programmes include only tuition fees. The estimated amount for on-campus accommodation and food during contact classes would be roughly INR 725 per day. This will have to be borne by the participant along with travel expenses.
The University will offer scholarships to deserving candidates based on their income, institutional affiliation, and other factors. These scholarships range from full fee waivers to partial waivers and will be awarded at the sole discretion of the University. The University will ask for documentary proof as required.
Programme Calendar (Tentative)*
| Certificate Programme | Programme Cycle | In-person classes* |
|---|---|---|
| Perspectives of Assessment | 5 Feb to 30 April 2024 | 22 Apr to 26 Apr 2024 |
| Designing Formative Assessments | 13 May to 31 Jul 2024 | 22 Jul to 26 Jul 2024 |
| Designing Competency-Based Summative Assessments | 19 Aug to 01 Nov 2024 | 21 Oct to 25 Oct 2024 |
| Planning and Using Large-Scale Assessments | 18 Nov 2024 to 15 Feb 2025 | 06 Jan to 10 Jan 2025 |
*Above dates are indicative and may change. Dates will be re-confirmed one month in advance of each Certificate.
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Course structure
The programme will be offered in blended mode:
- Online — This will be conducted through lectures, group work, workshops, case study analysis, presentations, readings, discussion forums on Learning Management Systems, audio/video materials and regular assessment.
- Face-to-face interaction — Each certificate programme will have one-week on-campus residential component, providing opportunities for sharing of learning through intensive group work and interaction with experts and practitioners from the field.
Course 1: Understanding assessments: concepts, purposes and approaches
The course will help participants understand the inter-relationship between learners, learning and assessment by building an overview of the various, concepts, theories, purposes and approaches to assessments.
Course 2: Policies, issues and principles of assessment
The course will enable participants to delve deeper into the education policies in India and the assessment reforms that have occurred over time and to evolve principles of validity, reliability and fairness in planning and designing assessments.
Duration: 12 weeks
Course 1: Unpacking the meaning of formative assessment
The course will introduce participants to research and theories in the area of formative assessment along with case studies from the Indian and global context to understand key-stage strategies of conducting ongoing formative assessments in classrooms.
Course 2: Designing tools and processes of formative assessments
The course will help participants apply their theoretical understanding in designing and creating various tools and techniques for formative assessment across different stages – such as rubrics, portfolios, observation checklists, projects and anecdotal records.
Duration: 12 weeks
Course 1: Planning for summative assessment
The course will acquaint participants with the key principles and best practices at the global level for designing standardized assessment instruments that include conceptualizing assessment frameworks, blueprints and scoring schemes.
Course 2: Designing summative assessment instruments
The course will help apply participants’ learnings to design valid, reliable and fair assessment instruments for various summative purposes of assessments such as terminal exams, board exams, selection tests and large-scale assessments.
Duration: 12 weeks
Course 1: Understanding large-scale assessments
The course will equip participants to read and interpret large scale assessment data such as NAS, ASER and PISA along with building an understanding of planning, designing and conducting such assessments at scale.
Course 2: Interpreting assessment data
The course will provide participants hands-on experience of conducting item analysis using classical test theory and item response theory for ensuring quality and efficacy of assessment instruments.
Duration: 12 weeks
Total 24 credits
