Quote of the day

Reading through my notes on some of the many assessment papers I have read, I’m finding a few of those ‘sit up and take note’ quotes; things (sometimes very obvious) that other people somehow manage to say so much better than I can. So, I bring you the first of an occasional series of ‘Quote of the day’:

…’ summative assessment is itself ‘formative’. It cannot help but be formative. This is not an issue. At issue is whether that formative potential of summative assessment is lethal or emancipatory. Does summative assessment exert its power to discipline and control, a power so possibly lethal that the student may be wounded for life?’

Barnett, Ronald (2007) Assessment in higher education: an impossible mission? In Boud, David and Falchikov, Nancy (eds) Rethinking assessment in higher education. London, Routledge. pg37.

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2 Responses to Quote of the day

  1. Silvester Draaijer says:

    Nice quote Sally. I will remember this one and the ones to come …

  2. Sally Jordan says:

    Thanks Silvester! It is good to hear from you.

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