Conference poster
The role of distributive leadership in implementing criterion-referenced assessment: a case study of a university
UTAS Graduate Research Conference: Sharing Excellence in Research (SEiR), 2012 (Hobart, Australia, 06-Sep-2012)
University of Tasmania
2012
Abstract
For the last twenty years universities have been undergoing rapid changes, one of which is the increasing focus on quality including improving student assessment. To achieve this, the University of Tasmania approved a change to its assessment policy in 2007 that required the implementation of criterion-referenced assessment (CRA) using a distributive leadership (DL) model or strategy between 2008 and 2011. Research shows that CRA improves the quality and consistency of assessment processes. It does this by making expectations explicit to students in aligned course and unit learning outcomes, and providing them with clear descriptions of the standards required for assessment in the form of criteria sheets or rubrics. DL involves formal and informal leadership roles where the action and influence of people at all levels is recognised as integral to the organization. At UTAS, the people included 36 Champions from each School, academic developers from the Academic Development Unit, Associate Deans and other academics. This longitudinal case study investigates the role DL played in supporting CRA. It uses a mixed methods approach to the collection of quantitive and qualitative data, with particular emphasis on the Champions' perspectives. The 'picture' of DL that emerges will be evaluated using the ASERT (action self- enabling reflective tool) or the six characteristics of successful change management strategies in a university developed by Cummings, Phillips, Tilbrook and Lowe (2005). This research has the potential to: (i) address a gap in the research literature-the few previous studies using DL to implement CRA do not not explicitly critique the DL model they used or focus on the 'Champions'; (ii) inform how future change is implemented at an institutional and School-based level at UTAS through the development of a modified model; and (iii) with the increasing popularity of DL as a way of implementing change, the study could inform DL models for change in other universities/contexts.
Details
- Title
- The role of distributive leadership in implementing criterion-referenced assessment: a case study of a university
- Authors
- Moira Cordiner (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Conference details
- UTAS Graduate Research Conference: Sharing Excellence in Research (SEiR), 2012 (Hobart, Australia, 06-Sep-2012)
- Publisher
- University of Tasmania
- Date published
- 2012
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2012 The Author. Reproduced with permission of the author.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450037902621
- Output Type
- Conference poster
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