Criteria 1: Access

This element refers to the various factors and settings that influence how assessment tasks are administered and completed. This includes everything from the physical environment to psychological and emotional factors. These conditions can significantly affect the ability of students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.


UDL Principles

  • Engagement: Supportive conditions help maintain student motivation and reduce anxiety.
  • Representation: Accessible environments and accommodations ensure all students can understand and engage with the assessments.
  • Action & Expression: Fair and equitable conditions allow all students to demonstrate their abilities without unnecessary barriers.

  • This example demonstrates how assessment conditions can be adjusted to ensure fairness and equity for all students, regardless of personal circumstances or disabilities. By providing alternative options for site visits and interviews, offering flexible submission deadlines, and ensuring equitable access to resources, the revised task promotes inclusivity and reduces barriers to success. These changes help ensure that all students can demonstrate their abilities effectively, leading to more accurate and fair assessments of their knowledge and skills.

    Considerations

    Are assessment conditions designed to be fair and equitable, ensuring that no student is disadvantaged due to their personal circumstances or disabilities?

    Additional Considerations:

    How do the assessment conditions account for diverse student needs and circumstances?  Are accommodations and adjustments available to support all students in demonstrating their abilities effectively?

    Original Assessment Task: Urban Planning Case Study

    Assignment Name: Task Details:

    • Description: Students must complete a detailed case study of an urban planning project, including site visits,   interviews with stakeholders, and a comprehensive written report with analysis and recommendations.
    • Timing: Announced at the beginning of Week 1, due by Week 10.
    • Percentage: 40%

    Issues:

    1. No Adjustments for Disabilities: Students with disabilities who may have difficulty with site visits or conducting interviews are not provided with alternative options or support.
    2. Inflexible Submission Deadlines: The strict submission deadline does not account for personal circumstances, such as health issues or family emergencies, which may affect a student's ability to complete the assignment on time.
    3. Lack of Equitable Resources: Students with limited access to transportation or technology are disadvantaged when it comes to conducting site visits or creating high-quality reports.

    Revised Assessment Task: Urban Planning Case Study

    Task Details:

    • Description: Students are required to complete a detailed case study of an urban planning project, including site visits,   interviews with stakeholders, and a comprehensive written report with analysis and recommendations.
    • Advance Notice: Assignment details and expectations are provided at the end of the previous semester and reiterated in the first class of the current semester.
    • Timing: Announced at the end of the previous semester, due by Week 12.
    • Percentage: 40%

    Changes Implemented:

    1. Adjustments for Disabilities: Alternative options are provided for students with disabilities, such as virtual site visits, online interviews, or additional support during fieldwork.
    2. Flexible Submission Deadlines: Clear guidelines are provided for requesting extensions due to personal circumstances, with accommodations made for health issues, family emergencies, or other significant disruptions.
    3. Equitable Access to Resources: Support is provided for students with limited access to transportation or technology, including arranging transportation for site visits and providing access to university resources for creating reports.

    Improvements:

    1. Increased Accessibility: Providing alternative options for students with disabilities ensures that all students can participate fully in the assessment, promoting inclusivity and fairness.
    2. Flexibility for Personal Circumstances: Flexible submission deadlines and clear guidelines for extensions accommodate diverse student needs, reducing stress and ensuring that personal circumstances do not unfairly impact performance.
    3. Equitable Resource Access: Offering support for transportation and access to technology ensures that all students have the necessary resources to complete the assessment, levelling the playing field and promoting equity.
    4. Improved Performance: With fair and equitable conditions, students are more likely to perform to their best potential, leading to more accurate assessments of their understanding and skills.