Walking the assessment tightrope Introduction 82; The purpose of assessment 82; Building an assessment strategy 84; Different forms of assessment 86; Peer

doi:10.4324/9780203415894-20

Chapter

Walking the assessment tightrope Introduction 82; The purpose of assessment 82; Building an assessment strategy 84; Different forms of assessment 86; Peer

ABSTRACT

For many people, one of the thrills of going to the circus is the spectacle of the tightrope walker who aims to walk a considerable distance on nothing more than a thin wire, with the ground many metres below. Considerable skill is required, as there is a very ﬁne line between remaining balanced and falling off. As educators, we have over the years come to view our roles in overseeing the assessment process as requiring the exacting skills and knowledge of the tightrope walker, balancing differing functions and forms of assessment with demands on time.