Assessment briefings – a space for interdisciplinary collaborations

Abstract

This presentation showcased inter-professional collaborations between a learning developer and two subject specialists in a BA Primary Education module. The module has a complex assignment which assesses students’ primary mathematics and English subject knowledge and pedagogy, and their capacity to critique authentic teaching practice and to formulate a strong rationale for their critique. The session specifically explored: (a) formal assignment briefings as an opportunity for academic literacies integration, and (b) how learning developers can work across boundaries to embed academic development in the context of specific assessments. Furthermore, the presentation examined how these three professionals worked across disciplines to create learning resources for the module to collaboratively introduce the assignment brief to a large cohort. The session also made reference to the pedagogic principles which brought these professionals together, the strategies required to cultivate trust in interdisciplinary relationships, and the skills needed to co-design and co-teach within the module, to foster students’ critical engagement with both subject-specific pedagogy and academic writing as a means of developing a professional stance.