Course Design
Setting (module level)
Supporting
Submitting / Sitting
Marking / Feedback
Recording Marks
Returning Marks/Feedback
Boards
Reflecting / Reviewing
- Academic Awards Framework
- Standard Assessment Regulations
- Standard Academic Calendars
- Policy for the Verification of Assessment and Standardisation and Moderation of Marking
Choose a section
or find out more about the framework below.
Course Design
This theme covers course assessment design, relevant at the point of course review and, or course approval or validation, together with inclusive practice and modification.
Setting (module level)
This theme covers the setting of assessment tasks, feedback approaches and assessment criteria, relevant when detailed assessment and re-assessment tasks are being written.
Supporting
This theme provides guidance to staff around inclusivity, equality and diversity together with advice around equipment and training associated with online practice.
Submitting / Sitting
This theme covers information around the submission of assessment tasks (including portfolios), originality checking and the protocols for sitting exams.
Marking / Feedback
This theme covers guidance on the options available for marking and providing feedback online as well as alternative methods for offline practice.
Recording Marks
This theme covers guidance around how marks are recorded in the Blackboard Grade Centre for all assessment tasks.
Returning Marks/Feedback
This theme covers guidance around the entering and release of provisional marks and feedback to students within the required timescales.
Boards
This theme covers guidance around the assessment board process for board chairs, members and external examiners.
Reflecting / Reviewing
This theme provides guidance on reviewing assessment through the annual review process which operates at module and course level.
Update: October 2020
Please be aware of the addendums to all of the university Regulations, Policies and Procedures on assessment as we move through the academic year 2020/21.
Here at Sheffield Hallam University, our Policy for Assessment applies to all courses and modules offered by the University, except where there are specific exemptions due to Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements or where the University has agreed alternative arrangements with collaborative partner organisations. Exemptions require support and agreement through the appropriate process and must be published in course/module-specific documentation.
Assessment Essentials is fundamentally an academic model that is intended to be pedagogically driven, providing a holistic picture of assessment design and delivery activity and should be designed and delivered in accordance with the University’s:
and with reference to the Principles and Procedures for Assessment and the University’s Grade Descriptors.
Clarity on assessment design and delivery, including what is assessed, and when and how assessment takes place, is an important area for the University to continually improve upon and features strongly in the National Student Survey. Improving the transparency and understanding of assessment processes and protocols is an important element of the assessment experience and helps students to see that these are equitable and fair.
Course Assessment and Feedback Experience (CAFE) project 2017/18 and 2018/19 used evidence-based approaches to identify and support the development assessment and feedback practice placing the student experience (student voice) at the heart of its approach.
As well as the Assessment Essentials resource for academic staff we also have the Assessment 4 Students site that has been designed in the same format to help support our students navigate through the assessment policy, principles and procedures.
The model has been based on the Manchester Metropolitan University Assessment Lifecycle and through discussions with JISC EMA project.