Harnessing the power of assessment to support teaching and learning through an innovative blended learning approach (A+BLe)

It is always challenging for teachers to, on one side, well organize the teaching/learning content so that all students are more likely to actively participate in the learning process, and on the other side, to adequately assess students’ learning outcomes in each learning unit/session. This invited presentation will focus on introducing two online assessment techniques: 1) Team-based Electronic Assessment (TEA) that facilitates team-based learning and provides immediate feedback and 2) Self- and Peer-Assessment (SPA) that assesses four key aspects of teamwork: Preparation, Contribution, Gatekeeping, and Flexibility as well as positive emotions students experienced in team-based learning. Generic learning outcomes (GILOs) are also assessed via the SPA in the learning process rather than at the end of a course/academic year/university learning. The two assessment platforms have been developed from a university-level teaching development project. They contribute to linking teaching and learning to assessment practices (self-assessment, peer-assessment and teacher-assessment) in a visible and progressive way. These process data include immediate feedback and visualized assessment results to inform teachers about their teaching impacts and students about their learning outcomes. These learning analytic features inform students and teachers how well the objectives of teaching and learning have been achieved. Additionally, there would be no extra workload for academic/teaching staff to take in managing TEA and SPA in their courses given the automated calculation, record and report preparation features of these tools. These innovative features and empirical evidence will be presented in detail and discussed in relation to the blended learning mode amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Copyright © 2021 International Conference on Learning and Teaching.