History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment
This paper uses a trial audit of history programs undertaken in 2011-2012 to explore issues surrounding the attainment of Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) in an emerging Australian national standards environment for the discipline of history. The audit sought to ascertain whether an accreditation...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Calgary
2015-09-01
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| Series: | Teaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal |
| Online Access: | http://tlijournal.com/tli/index.php/TLI/article/view/87 |
| _version_ | 1818863248332554240 |
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| author | Sean Brawley Jennifer Clark Chris Dixon Lisa Ford Erik Nielsen Shawn Ross Stuart Upton |
| author_facet | Sean Brawley Jennifer Clark Chris Dixon Lisa Ford Erik Nielsen Shawn Ross Stuart Upton |
| author_sort | Sean Brawley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper uses a trial audit of history programs undertaken in 2011-2012 to explore issues surrounding the attainment of Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) in an emerging Australian national standards environment for the discipline of history. The audit sought to ascertain whether an accreditation process managed by the discipline under the auspices of the Australian Historical Association (AHA) could be based on a limited-intervention, “light-touch” approach to assessing attainment of the TLOs. The results of the audit show that successful proof of TLO attainment would only be possible with more active intervention into existing history majors and courses. Assessments across all levels of history teaching would have to be designed, undertaken, and marked using a rubric matched to the TLOs. It proved unrealistic to expect students to demonstrate acquisition of the TLOs from existing teaching and assessment practices. The failure of the “light-touch” audit process indicates that demonstrating student attainment under a national standards regime would require fundamental redevelopment of the curriculum. With standards-based approaches to teaching and learning emerging as international phenomena, this case study resonates beyond Australia and the discipline under investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:12:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2cd8acfdf76e420fb0645975d535ca0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-4779 2167-4787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:12:44Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | University of Calgary |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Teaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-2cd8acfdf76e420fb0645975d535ca0c2022-12-21T20:26:18ZengUniversity of CalgaryTeaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal2167-47792167-47872015-09-01328910510.20343/teachlearninqu.3.2.8966History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards EnvironmentSean Brawley0Jennifer Clark1Chris Dixon2Lisa Ford3Erik Nielsen4Shawn Ross5Stuart Upton6Macquarie UniversityUniversity of New EnglandUniversity of QueenslandUniversity of New South WalesMacquarie UniversityMacQuarie UniversityUniversity of New South WalesThis paper uses a trial audit of history programs undertaken in 2011-2012 to explore issues surrounding the attainment of Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) in an emerging Australian national standards environment for the discipline of history. The audit sought to ascertain whether an accreditation process managed by the discipline under the auspices of the Australian Historical Association (AHA) could be based on a limited-intervention, “light-touch” approach to assessing attainment of the TLOs. The results of the audit show that successful proof of TLO attainment would only be possible with more active intervention into existing history majors and courses. Assessments across all levels of history teaching would have to be designed, undertaken, and marked using a rubric matched to the TLOs. It proved unrealistic to expect students to demonstrate acquisition of the TLOs from existing teaching and assessment practices. The failure of the “light-touch” audit process indicates that demonstrating student attainment under a national standards regime would require fundamental redevelopment of the curriculum. With standards-based approaches to teaching and learning emerging as international phenomena, this case study resonates beyond Australia and the discipline under investigation.http://tlijournal.com/tli/index.php/TLI/article/view/87 |
| spellingShingle | Sean Brawley Jennifer Clark Chris Dixon Lisa Ford Erik Nielsen Shawn Ross Stuart Upton History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment Teaching & Learning Inquiry: The ISSOTL Journal |
| title | History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment |
| title_full | History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment |
| title_fullStr | History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment |
| title_short | History on Trial: Evaluating Learning Outcomes through Audit and Accreditation in a National Standards Environment |
| title_sort | history on trial evaluating learning outcomes through audit and accreditation in a national standards environment |
| url | http://tlijournal.com/tli/index.php/TLI/article/view/87 |
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