This document discusses assessment procedures for the BA in Graphic Communication at Bath Spa University. It provides details on portfolio submission and assessment, which takes place at the end of each module. Modules are taught sequentially and cover areas like studio work, professional context, and history, arts and cultural studies. The assessment process and criteria are aimed to be clearer and more targeted to individual student projects. Feedback is intended to be more personalized and directly relate learning outcomes to strengths and weaknesses. An online assessment form tracks feedback against projects and uses indicators to suggest grades in a clearer manner.

1. Bath Spa University
Bath School of Art & Design
Neil Glen MA RCA
@neilglen (twitter)

2. Art & Design
• Assessment is by portfolio submission
• Portfolio consists of a number of projects
• Assessment is at end of each module
• Each module may be taught by several staff
• Modules run sequentially

3. BA Graphic Comm: typ. year
Studio (40 credit) Studio (40 credit)
HACS (20 credit) Professional Context (20 credit)

4. BA Graphic Comm: typ. Studio
Module
Studio (4 week) Studio (4 week) Studio (4 week)

5. BA Graphic Comm: typ. assessment
As a guide, the required submission should include the following components
• 100% of assignments.
• 2 academic workshop projects. Evidence of work from 2 technical workshops, and final project.
• Preparatory work and research to demonstrate working methodology.
• Portfolio presentation to a standard that demonstrates increasing awareness of self-promotion.

6. BA Graphic Comm: learning outcomes
What you will gain from this module:
On completion of this module you should be able to:
• Demonstrate effective research strategies, apply to graphic communication contexts.
• Evaluate your personal abilities, interests and focus with tutor guidance.
• Evidence improvement and confidence in practical and technical skills development.
• Manage your time effectively through all stages of a task to completion.
• Engage in critical discussion of your work and that of your peers.
• Present your work in a clear and effective way.

7. BA:GC
We aim to summarise all
of this into a set of
words and some
indication of overall
performance.

8. BA Graphic Comm: issues/aims
•
• Reduction to teaching reduced formative feedback
• Single body of feedback failed to address individual projects
• Relationship between learning outcomes / assessment criteria and feedback
• Relationship between tutor leading project and feedback
• Relationship between words used in written feedback and grades
In 2011 Bath Spa University moved from Microsoft to using Google.

9. BA Graphic Comm: data handling
Distributed Word doc file
• Template emailed out to staff
• Collated by co-ordinator
Concerns over data being left on Studio machines and determining latest version.
Shared Word doc file
• Secure server
• Access only to academic and admin staff
• Editable by one person at a time (this is a plus and a minus)
• No revision history
No local files, no duplicates, data backed up.
Google docs
• Single shared file, editable by anyone with access rights
• All changes tracked against user and logged chronologically
• Conforms to Data Protection Act
• Easy to assign/edit rights to all files in a folder
• Easy to download to local secure server for archive

10. BA:GC Form
•
• Relates learning/assessment
• Relates words/indicators
• Clear marking process
• Clear grade bandings

11. BA:GC Form
•
• Relates learning/assessment
• Relates words/indicators
• Clear marking process
• Clear grade bandings
• Form is online from day one
• Can be edited by any tutor
• Comments are assigned to editor
• Easy to see strength/weakness
• Easy to see good/bad projects
• Comments written by tutor
• Comments relate to projects
• Marking indicators suggests grade
• Tutors can revise these
• Final mark is not visible

12. BA:GC Conclusion
• Simpler criteria
• Feedback more targeted to project
• Feedback more personal
• Grading clearer

13. BA:GC Conclusion
• Simpler criteria
• Feedback more targeted to project
• Feedback more personal
• Strength/weakness clearer
• Grading clearer

14. BA:GC Conclusion
• Simpler criteria
• Feedback more targeted to project
• Feedback more personal
• Strength/weakness clearer
• Grading clearer

15. BA:GC Conclusion
• Simpler criteria
• Feedback more targeted to project
• Feedback more personal
• Strength/weakness clearer
• Grading clearer

16. BA:GC Conclusion
• Simpler criteria
• Feedback more targeted to project
• Feedback more personal
• Grading clearer

17. Thank you
Neil Glen MA RCA
@neilglen (twitter)