Chemistry Discipline Network

Teaching-focused academic appointments in Australian universities: recognition, specialisation or stratification. Belinda Probert
http://www.olt.gov.au/resource-teaching-focused-academic-appointments

From Threshold Learning Outcomes to Demonstrable Assessable Standards - Update on Progress
After a very productive meeting in Sydney on December 12, with 15 attendees from 12 Australian chemistry departments, we met on February 4 to continue the work from the (reordered) TLOs to standards. This time 24 attendees, representing eighteen Universities participated, taking the two tier commentary from February 4 and refining this into what, with final editing, will be an agreed set of two tier statements covering the “body of knowledge” TLO 2.1. These statements are being generated with the understanding that alterations and possible additions of other principles in the future are not excluded. In the afternoon discussion focussed on the ways and means of assessing or demonstrating that students have achieved the outcomes and to what level. Thus the focus shifts to assessment and levelling. The “body of knowledge” TLO 2.1 statements will be distributed widely and the next discussions are currently being planned. 
It is crucial to keep in mind that TLOs are about demonstrating mastery of a threshold; we are not looking at assessment items in order to differentiate a pass from a high distinction. The TLOs provide the threshold to be met across the whole degree, but we are also interested in discussing how this can be broken down between the year levels.