Moving Assessment in New Directions

Abstract

This chapter weaves together the different threads of preceding chapters. Clusters of generative mechanisms and structures from each chapter are re-presented, along with the corresponding kinds of assessment acts and practices. How to transform the assessment practices of an institution, in this case a university, is discussed using the concept of language games of assessment, along with assessment capital and assessment habitus. A layer of complexity is added for the reader, when different world views of assessment are introduced into the discussion. This involves the drawing together of (a) Māori language games and forms of life connected with aromatawai, which means ‘to take notice of’ or ‘pay attention to’ and ‘to examine closely’ and (b) traditional western language games of assessment that include assessing in a valid, reliable, authentic, equitable and informative (transparent) manner.

You could say: disorder is when nothing is in the right place. Whereas order is when the right place has nothing at all. These days, you tend to find order where there isn’t anything. It’s a symptom of deprivation. (Brecht, 1956/2019, p. 13).Ocean

between tūpuna (grandfather) and mokopuna (grandchild)

on the porch always to be re-painted

peeling a story silver feathered silence

strong backed and stubborn

carried by the whistling spring to Ocean

our Ocean

the sail cloth stained red

red the fish heads thrown back

to bait the dreams of other childhoods

of eyes turned down and precious

thoughts kept for another day

of arms moved inward in sleep

our shelter.(Stephen Dobson, unpublished poem)