Standard Operating Procedures employed for continuous (internal) assessment followed by the Institution

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The BAOU follows a learner-centric system with focus on what the learners are expected to demonstrate at the end of the program. The outcomes are assessed through formative evaluation tools as well as summative evaluation through term end examinations.

The purpose of conducting formative assessment is to monitor the learning progress of the learner; it is also conducted to know whether the learning objectives have been achieved or not and to provide feedback on the teaching-learning process. The formative assessment method used by BAOU ensures learner friendly assessment and helps in enhancing the learning abilities of the learner. It provides scope for the use of a variety of activities, and various tools and techniques for promoting holistic development of the learners. It ensures learning in a non-threatening and supportive environment. It provides descriptive feedback to learners for realising their strengths and weaknesses. It provides a chance to the learners to reflect on their performance, as it realises the role of motivation and self-esteem of students learning. It encourages learners to understand the criteria/parameters that have been used to judge their performance. It helps learners to actively and continuously engage in learning. It provides feedback to the teachers to use teaching strategies according to the needs of the learners.  

Learners attainment of Course Outcomes (COs), Programme Outcomes (POs), and Programme Specific Outcomes (PSOs) are assessed by customized formative evaluation tools throughout the period of study. The tools are designed in tune with the objectives of the course and its outcomes specifically measuring attainment of the program specific outcomes. 

It is conducted during the instructional process. It is considered as the second stage of assessment which is conducted during the teaching-learning process. It is carried out from the very beginning of instruction and continues till the end of the course.  

The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University has adopted a comprehensive formative assessment mechanism to ensure that learners accomplish the expected Course Outcomes, Programme Outcomes, and Program Specific Outcomes through specially designed formative assessment tools.

Based on the requirement of the course formative assessment, it has been  set up at many levels in the university's teaching learning process as per the ordinance of the university. Self-check exercises and activities are embedded into the Self-Learning Material to facilitate the learners to assess their learning and meet the expected learning outcomes. Continuous evaluation is also done through various tools which are compulsory and generally carry a weightage of 30% in the overall assessment of the course which includes: assignments, practical, project work, fieldwork, seminars, workshops, lab based practical, dissertations, seminar, workshop, extended contact programmes, internship, etc. These tools are designed by the faculty of the Schools of study. The summative assessment is done through the Term End Examinations (TEE).

In most of the courses, the formative assessment/continuous evaluation is implemented through assignments, which are uploaded on the University’s website according to the academic calendar. All the learners are required to work on these assignments and submit their responses to their respective Learner Support Centres (LSCs) as per the deadline for the same. Moreover, where the courses have practical components, learners are evaluated on the basis of their performance in their practical work, workshops, seminars, or project work. Project manuals of such programmes are also made available on the University website, for example Bachelor of Computer Applications, Post Graduate Diploma in Mobile Application Development etc. The evaluation of continuous assessment takes place at the Learner Support Centre, the assignment and evaluation department at the university headquarter makes the constant and effective monitoring of timely completion of the continuous assessment and evaluation at the LSCs by academic counsellors.

Process of planning and management formative assessment includes the following activities:

Design and Development Stage at HQs:

• Preparation of assignments by Examination Department in consultation with Schools of Study;

• Preparation of Practical manuals, project manuals, fieldwork manual, dissertation manual by Schools of Study

• Uploading the assignments and all the other manuals on the University website;

• Providing the schedule of submission of Assignments;

• Preparation of guidelines for assessment of assignments by the teaching faculties/ external evaluators / academic counsellor;

• Supply of answer key for the numerical/descriptive assignments to academic counsellors;

• Making timely access of assignments to the learners.

Management of Assignment related services at LSCs:

• Accepting the completed assignments by the learners at the LSCs as per the prescribed schedule;

• Issuing the receipts of submission of assignments to the learners;

• Course wise and Evaluator-wise segregation of assignments;

• Dispatch of assignments to evaluators for the assessment;

• Evaluation of assignments as per the laid down norms including the time frame;

• Receipt of evaluated assignments from evaluators;

• Returning the evaluated assignments with feedback and specific comments received from the evaluator to the learners;

• Submitting the marks of assignments in the assignment portal and approving the same.

• Dispatch of sample assignment responses to headquarters/RCs for monitoring ;

• Dispatch of monthly evaluation reports to examination department at Head Quarter in the prescribed format.

The Assignment Section under the Examination Department at HQ keeps track of the continuous assessment process from uploading of assignments on websites to the receipt of grade list from LSCs. 

It is essential to pass in each of the components of the course individually to be declared as successful in the respective course.  

The university has automated the entire process of Formative Assessment in a transparent manner, which provides the following services to the stakeholders 

1. Learners can submit the assignments online. 

2. An authorised user at the assignment section can view and allocate the assignment to the evaluator the same online.

3. The evaluator can assess the assignment online at their convenience.

4. The evaluator can submit the marks on the portal online.

5. The authorised user at the assignment section can generate the grade sheet for the future reference.