Assessment and Feedback Practices Reflection

Revisiting and refining my assessment and feedback strategies has been a critical part of my commitment to promoting deeper student learning and ensuring alignment with course learning outcomes. Through the redesign of authentic assessments in courses such as Radiation Physics, Dosimetry, and Workplace Safety, I critically reflected on how assessments can serve not only as evaluation tools but also as integral components of the learning process. This reflection outlines the key successes, challenges faced, adjustments made, and my ongoing efforts to create fair, transparent, and developmental assessment practices.

Teaching Experience:
Implementation and revision of authentic, formative, and summative assessments across undergraduate and postgraduate Medical Physics courses, including project-based assignments, simulations, take-home exams, and coursework aligned with professional standards​.

What Went Well

• Authentic assessments (e.g., Monte Carlo simulation projects, radiation protection design tasks) closely mirrored real-world clinical challenges, encouraging practical application of theoretical knowledge.

• Structured formative feedback cycles (using models like RISE: Reflect, Inquire, Suggest, Elevate) shifted student focus from grades to learning improvement.

• Clear communication of learning outcomes and grading rubrics helped students understand expectations and standards.
  
  

Challenges

• Providing detailed, individualized feedback across multiple courses proved time-consuming and challenging to sustain without affecting turnaround times. 

• Some students initially struggled to interpret and apply detailed feedback effectively, requiring more structured support post-assessment.
  
  

Impact on Student Learning

• Students displayed improved critical thinking, analytical skills, and deeper engagement with course material when assessments mirrored real-world applications.  

• There was a noticeable increase in students revising their work based on feedback, demonstrating a growing emphasis on reflective learning practices.
  
  

Lessons Learned and Changes Implemented

• Rubric Refinement: Created detailed, transparent grading rubrics linked directly to learning outcomes to enhance fairness and clarity.

• Feedback Efficiency: Explored strategies to streamline feedback, including grouped comments for common issues and the use of brief audio feedback where appropriate.

• Post-Assessment Reflection: Introduced post-assessment reflection activities to help students actively engage with feedback and set improvement goals.

• Formative Assessments: Integrated more low-stakes, formative assessment opportunities (e.g., online quizzes, in-class problem-solving) to provide ongoing feedback throughout the course.
  
  

Moving Forward
I plan to further integrate reflective practices into the assessment cycle, making feedback not only a means of evaluation but also a catalyst for continuous improvement. Future strategies will also include exploring AI-assisted feedback tools to maintain quality and personalization while ensuring timely responses. My overarching aim remains to create a supportive, transparent, and learner-centered assessment environment that empowers students to take ownership of their academic growth.