Evaluation in the new Degrees: experiences in continual assessment

Abstract

The Bologna plan implementation means that a new concept of teaching and evaluation has to be considered, i.e. traditional lectures and final tests to evaluate the students must be transformed into interactive lectures, combined with self-learning activities on the student’s side and a continual assessment, where the final test is just a part of the global assessment. Thus, a more objective and complete comprehension of the subject can be achieved, and the student’s success would depend not only on the ability of the lecturer but also on their own capacity of work, dedication and interest. As an example, the methodology followed for teaching and assess the subject “Chemistry” in the first year of the mathematics degree at the University of Alicante is exposed. A combination of interactive lectures, problems self-resolution, virtual laboratory experiments and participation on the class are used for their continual assessment. Finally, the experience of the results obtained, on one hand, with students following the traditional lectures and, on the other, with students following the Bologna process, is compared.