Almost 40 participants took part in the QCEC Online Assessment Symposium at the Australian Catholic University Leadership Centre in Brisbane last week. 

The main highlights of the symposium were the two keynote speakers: Dr Jenny Donovan from the Department of Education NSW and Debra Masters from Education Services Australia.  

Jenny has been seconded to the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA) to lead the National Learning Progressions and Online Formative Assessment Initiative.  

This project is currently in the discovery phase and initial findings will be presented to Education Ministers in December.  

Debra Masters demonstrated some current national formative assessment practices including the latest thinking on how evidence of student learning is being used more effectively to plan next learning steps.  

The focus was on practical aspects of formative assessment and demonstrated how students can be involved in the process of being able to track their own learning. The symposium concluded with an overall discussion on preferred directions in online assessment and what schools may need to consider in the future. 

Liam Garvey (QCEC), Jenny Donovan, Department of Education, NSW and Edwin Choi (QCEC)