Our Development Division.
Assessment and Examinations. Research and Evaluation.
At the Curriculum Foundation, we have been working for more than a decade to design assessments that help advance quality and equity in education worldwide.
Professor Mark Zelman leads our Examinations and Assessment division in partnership with Dr Andrew Joyce-Gibbons who leads our Research and Evaluation programmes.
How the Curriculum Foundation approaches Examinations and Assessment
We collaborate with educators around the world to create assessments that are based on rigorous research. We believe that research driven assessments helps students to embark on their path to new possibilities.
We co-develop quality assessments and user-driven educational products through statistical analysis, psychometric, and innovative test design.
Through our rigorous research, we create high-quality assessments that accurately measure student performance in a way that does not disadvantage any group of students because of differences in personal characteristics. We are committed to delivering user-driven educational solutions. While school systems around the world have unique needs, they are agreed in their needs for assessments that provide schools with a comprehensive and accurate picture of student learning.
We work with Ministries of Education and groups of schools globally to create summative and formative assessments which are aimed at supporting all children to succeed aided by informed and confident teachers.
How The Curriculum Foundation approaches Research and Evaluation.
Our approach to research and evaluation reflects our commitment to high quality and equitable assessments.
Our dynamic and responsive monitoring and evaluation programmes are designed to demonstrate that change is dynamic and alters according to context and time. We promote reflective practice and a commitment to participatory approaches, exploring effectiveness and impact through consultation with a range of stakeholders.
Our research is rooted in a partnership between Policy and Practice. We aim to integrate quality research and evaluation and continuous quality improvement processes into everything we do. This approach helps us to build close relationships, trust and accountabilities between researchers and those involved in programme implementation, policy and advocacy work. These relationships are critical to ensuring our research is relevant and effective in the field.
Our Development Division in action
Examples of our work:
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Paper presentation at the 2022 Annual Conference of the International Association for Educational Assessment. ‘A case study in principled assessment design: Examination reform in South Sudan’.
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South Sudan: We are providing all services required to develop, deliver and report on grades P1 to S4 tests in South Sudan, including item/test development, psychometric services and services to support scoring and reporting.
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Kazakhstan: Test development and psychometric consultant for World Bank, – Joint Economic Research Programme. Developing an integrated balanced student assessment system that will include summative, interim and formative assessments.
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Ukraine.: Test development with USAID & American Councils. Ukrainian Standardized External Testing Initiative, assisting in the development of standardized achievement and ability subject university admission tests.
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Nigeria: Examination reform. Item writing and assessment development.
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Sierra Leone: Impact evaluation of EducAid Education Innovation Challenge initiative in association with SL’s Department of Science Technology and Innovation.
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Morocco: Examination reform. Psychometric services.
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Bangladesh: Mid-term evaluation of CPD Framework Implementation in association with the Asian Development Bank.