Enhancing Assessment Quality through Case Studies and MCQs

Event Overview

On 22nd May 2024, Ms. Sameena Begum from Business Studies Department - College of Economics and Business Administration (CEBA) Muscat organized an enriching online session for faculty members on the theme "Enhancing Assessment Quality through Case Studies and MCQs". This session was conducted via Microsoft Teams and saw the participation of faculty members from various branches, indicating widespread interest in improving assessment methodologies.

Collaboration and Support

The event was held in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), highlighting the commitment to bringing high-quality professional insights to the academic community. The collaboration with ACCA ensured that the session had a robust foundation in current best practices and industry standards.

Speaker Profile

The session was facilitated by Rachel Norman, the Specialist Solutions Lead at ACCA. Rachel Norman is responsible for leading the educational aspects of ACCA’s international portfolio of recognition and capacity building projects. She has an extensive background in accounting education within global professional accountancy bodies, encompassing lecturing, examining, and the design, development, and delivery of accountancy qualifications. Her expertise in utilizing case studies and multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to enhance the quality of assessments was invaluable.

Session Highlights

Rachel Norman provided comprehensive insights into various aspects of assessment strategy. Key areas discussed included:

1. Assessment Strategy - Impacts

Rachel Norman explained how a well-structured assessment strategy can significantly impact student learning outcomes and institutional effectiveness. She emphasized the need for aligning assessment methods with learning objectives and ensuring consistency across different levels of the curriculum.

2. Structure of the Exam – Blueprint

The session detailed the importance of an exam blueprint. An exam blueprint serves as a detailed plan that outlines the structure of an assessment. It includes:

Content Areas: Topics or modules that the exam will cover.

Question Formats: Different types of questions (e.g., MCQs, case studies).

Weightage: The proportion of marks allocated to each content area.

3. Cognitive Levels – Bloom’s Taxonomy

Rachel Norman discussed the application of Bloom's Taxonomy in designing assessments. Bloom's Taxonomy categorizes cognitive skills into six levels:

She highlighted the importance of including questions that address multiple cognitive levels to promote comprehensive learning and critical thinking.

4. Allocation of Marks

Norman emphasized the importance of a clear and fair allocation of marks in assessments. She discussed strategies for:

• Distributing Marks: Ensuring that marks are distributed proportionately across different sections of the exam.
• Weighting Questions: Balancing the difficulty and importance of questions to reflect their value in the overall assessment.

5. Allocation of Marks – Mark Scheme

A detailed mark scheme is crucial for consistency and fairness in grading. Rachel Norman outlined best practices for developing mark schemes, including:

• Clear Criteria: Providing explicit criteria for each mark awarded.
• Consistency: Ensuring that all markers apply the scheme uniformly.
• Transparency: Making the mark scheme available to students to clarify expectations.

6. Feedback – Examiners' Report

Norman discussed the significance of providing constructive feedback through examiners' reports. These reports should:

• Highlight Common Mistakes: Point out frequent errors and misconceptions.
• Provide Solutions: Offer correct answers and explanations.
• Guide Improvement: Suggest areas for further study and improvement.

Participant Feedback

The session was well-received by faculty members, who found the insights and practical advice highly beneficial. Participants appreciated the opportunity to learn from an expert like Rachel Norman and valued the interactive discussions that followed the presentation.