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Formative assessments in WISEflow

Formative assessments in WISEflow

Formative assessments can be created in a similar fashion to summative ones. Follow the steps outlined in the main Creating a flow (assessment) guidance and then make the following amendments as applicable:

Before you activate a formative flow (assessment)

  1. Amend the flow title so that there is no risk of mistaking the flow for a summative assessment. You can do this by adding ‘FORMATIVE’ or 'PRACTICE ASSESSMENT’ to the title. Click the edit icon underneath the title on the main flow page to edit it:

     

  2. Ensure that the participation start and end dates on the flow are correct. It is best practice to make sure that these dates do not overlap with the summative assessment - this will prevent students from attempting the wrong flow.

  3. Optional: if formative submissions will not be graded, you can disable the associated setting for this by navigating to the Marking and review panel and clicking Manage settings. On the Marking and review settings screen, untick the Submission of grades setting:

Markers and Reviewers will still be able to provide feedback on any submissions and this will be released at the end of the marking period and/ or any publication date that has been set without the need to submit or finalise grades.

Additional considerations for formative assessments

FLOWlock/ FLOWmulti (exams using the lockdown browser)

If you are setting up a formative FLOWlock or FLOWmulti assessment which is open to students for a significant amount of time (i.e. multiple days) rather than a short duration with in-person delivery, disable the lockdown browser and remove the participation and invigilator passwords.

These settings can be edited via the Participation panel:

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This will make it easy for the students to access and exit the flow at any time.

Tip: students can’t withdraw their submissions on FLOWlock and FLOWmulti type flows. If students want to continue accessing the assignment content, it is recommended that they exit the flow without submitting anything.

FLOWassign (coursework or remote assessments)

Similarity checking: if the formative assessment is an opportunity for students to submit written drafts prior to their main submission, you can switch off similarity checking on the flow to prevent an erroneously high similarity score when the final summative versions are submitted.

This can be done via the Marking and review panel by clicking Manage settings and unticking the Enable similarity control setting:

After activating a formative flow (assessment)

Optional: remove the SITS source from the flow. If the formative submissions are being graded, this will minimise the risk of formative grades from being sent back to Portico in error.

Important: If the SITS/ Portico source is removed before the flow is activated, students and markers will be deleted from the flow.

  1. Access the flow and navigate to the Sources tab. Click Manage sources:

     

  2. Click Remove on the appropriate source:

     

  3. Tick the box and click Delete on the prompt that appears to successfully remove the source from the flow.

  4. Once done, all participants on the flow will be deactivated. Navigate to the Participants table, click the All header and select the option to Activate all to restore student access to the flow:


    Alternatively, you can tick individual checkboxes in the All column to restore access to specific individuals on the flow: