Rethinking assessment for transdisciplinary learning
Project introduction and background information
Addressing complex global challenges such as climate change and poverty requires transdisciplinary learning, where students integrate academic knowledge with real-world societal needs. However, assessing transdisciplinary student learning is challenging due to its inherent unpredictability and uncertainty, boundary-crossing nature, collaborative learning, and dual focus on both learning as a process and as a product. Existing assessment approaches, rooted in fixed outcomes and individual accountability, are insufficient, highlighting the need for new approaches and a rethinking of assessment quality.
This project aims to rethink assessment in transdisciplinary learning by exploring its purpose (why), the learning we want to make visible (what), and the appropriate methods and tools (how). Examining these dimensions from diverse educational perspectives reveals valuable but fragmented entry points. Bringing them together into a coherent assessment framework will support assessment designs that capture the complexity of transdisciplinary learning while aligning with the four defining characteristics.
Objective and expected outcomes
The main question of this project is: What design considerations can support higher education teachers and educational support staff to better assess and foster the defining characteristics of transdisciplinary learning?
Using educational design research, the study will be conducted in three phases:
- Phase 1: Investigate theoretical and practical insights through literature reviews and case studies to draft an initial assessment framework.
- Phase 2: Collaboratively refine the framework in co-creation sessions with stakeholders, including students, teachers, educational support staff, examination board members and societal partners, through iterative prototyping and evaluation cycles.
- Phase 3: Evaluate the framework’s relevance and usability, and to find out how teachers and educational support staff make and justify their design considerations using the framework.
Results and learnings
The final outcome will be an assessment framework that empowers teachers and educational support staff to design coherent, aligned assessments reflecting the why, what, and how of transdisciplinary learning. This framework will help justify and strengthen assessment quality while enabling teachers to guide student learning toward the goals of transdisciplinary learning.
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