Abstract :
According to the Quality Assurance Agency, ‘Assessment describes any processes
that appraise an individual’s knowledge, understanding, abilities or
skills’, and is inextricably linked to a course or programme’s intended learning
outcomes. It also has a fundamental effect on students’ learningwhere it serves
a variety of purposes including evaluation, feedback and motivation. Assessment
also provides a performance indicator for both students and staff. Eassessment
offers opportunities for creating innovative assessment practices
that help engage students and increase their motivation for learning. The
paper reports the findings of a qualitative study undertaken in the academic
years 2006–07 and 2007–08 where a series of online summative assessments
were introduced into a 1st-year financial accounting course. Feedback from
students obtained from an evaluative survey and focus group interviews indicates
that assessment played a significant role in the teaching/learning
process. That is, students perceived a beneficial impact on learning, motivation
and engagement.
