Critical Evaluation of Effectiveness of Assessment and Feedback Practice Using the 4009BIO Module as a Case Study

The 4009BIO is a Year-1 second/third-semester module that covers cellular structure and communication. The assessment tasks are four mandatory case study scenarios, each with background information and questions related to numerical/data analyses and brief essays. The students receive feedback in the form of formative feedback, which is usually provided through face-to-face/virtual classroom setting, as well as written summative feedback. The students are encouraged to seek additional feedback through one-on-one meetings with the teaching team or virtually using the Teams platform. The students enrolled in the module are predominantly international students who contribute diverse perspectives and experiences to the learning environment. An overview of this student cohort shows that they are sociable and enthusiastic to learn and are likely to engage in group discussions and collaborative learning. My assessment and feedback practice are designed to provide a targeted support to guide students through a step-by-step process of understanding the assessment tasks, to improve their comprehension and foster higher levels of engagement, as well as enable the students to complete the assessment tasks with confidence and effectiveness. The assessment design aligns with the module's learning outcomes, and low-stake practice opportunities are incorporated. Feedback practice involves prompt, non-judgmental feedback, and regular review of feedback templates.