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Course Outline

EDU784 Assessment Principles and Practice in Steiner Education

Course Coordinator:Shelley Davidow (sdavidow@usc.edu.au) School:School of Education and Tertiary Access

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course you will compare Steiner assessment, practices and approaches with current global and assessment trends and focus, critically analysing holistic assessment models in relation to mainstream standardised and competitive approaches. You will identify a particular curriculum area, and evaluate authentic assessment practice and its relationship to Steiner curriculum, programme development and improving student learning outcomes.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – You are required to engage with online pre-recorded presentations and asynchronous materials and activities prior to attending the workshop tutorial. 1hr Week 1 6 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – This will be run in dual mode with a live Zoom tutorial/workshop in real-time but will be recorded for those who cannot make the session. 2hrs Week 1 6 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – A weekend in either week 6 or 7 (depending on study break and holidays) will be delivered online synchronously and asynchronously supported by technology-enabled learning and teaching including zoom. 7hrs Refer to Format 2 times
Online
Learning materials – You are required to engage with online pre-recorded presentations and asynchronous materials and activities prior to attending the workshop tutorial. 1hr Week 1 6 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – This will be run in dual mode with a live Zoom tutorial/workshop in real-time but will be recorded for those who cannot make the session. 2hrs Week 1 6 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – A weekend either in week 6 or week 7 (depending on holidays) will be delivered online synchronously and asynchronously supported by technology-enabled learning and teaching including zoom. 7hrs Refer to Format 2 times

Course Topics

Assessment principles and practice

Assessment – purposes and definitions

Steiner Education and assessment

‘Authentic assessment’

Innovative approaches to ‘authentic assessment’

Formative assessment and human development

Key practices needed to utilise assessment as an indicator of human development 

16 principles of assessment based on Steiner’s indications

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Critically evaluate Steiner philosophy and approaches regarding assessment in relation to global trends and practice. Creative and critical thinker
2 Develop and design innovative approaches to 'authentic assessment' Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
3 Demonstrate expert knowledge regarding assessment and human development Knowledgeable

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in Program ED510 or ED705

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Verbal feedback to group presentations and discussions weeks 1-5

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Oral and Written Piece Individual 50% 
10 minute presentation with script
 Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Portfolio Individual 50% 
2,500 words
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Assessment in Steiner Education
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of assessment in Steiner education. Your role in this task is to show evidence of your critical understanding of these precepts and to clearly articulate an advanced understanding of assessment practice in light of Steiner's pedagogy.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will engage with colleagues and research literature to evaluate assessment approaches in Steiner Education.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Critical understanding of national and global trends and approaches in assessment
 1
2 
Critical analysis of assessment in the context of Steiner’s pedagogy
 2
3 
Academic literacies: grammar, spelling, punctuation, APA referencing conventions
 1 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Developing Authentic Assessment
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to create a portfolio by building on the previous task and responding to the Learning Materials from the intensive, your research, and the readings. You will draw on your knowledge and understanding of assessment principles and practice in Steiner/Waldorf Education in a contemporary context.The portfolio will include an authentic assessment design and rationale focused on a particular area of interest.
Product: Portfolio
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
This portfolio will reflect your insights on developing/proposing authentic assessment practice in Steiner Education.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Development and design of ‘authentic assessment(s)’ in context
 1
2 
Critical evaluation of Steiner philosophy and assessment
 1 2
3 
Academic literacies: grammar, spelling, punctuation, APA referencing conventions​
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

For online elements access to a computer and Internet is required.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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