Marking matters: An enhancement-oriented investigation of marking trends and practices in the Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh

School:  Social and Political Science

Team Members:  Ian Russell, Andrew Bowman, Hazel Gray 

Abstract

Assessment contributes to student development, through students receiving both qualitative feedback about their work and quantitative indications of their progress, and underpins the processes that ensure employers, universities, and prospective students trust in the skills and knowledge of graduates. Monitoring trends in marking practices and outcomes should, therefore, be a key aspect of enhancing student learning and teaching quality assurance. Through quantitative analysis of marking data, an anonymised qualitative survey of teaching staff, and a focus group with markers, this project seeks to assess trends in the marking to two postgraduate taught programmes in the School of Social and Political Science and to investigate staff approaches to marking and how they relate to the trends in marks. Based on the findings compiled in a summary report, the project will make recommendations for interim subject-area improvements to improve the quality and consistency of marking. Through the project, we will develop pilot tools for assessing marking trends at a larger scale. The project will act as a first step towards a larger PTAS application, where we will employ these tools in order to understand marking trends in the wider School.