Authentic assessment in forensic science programmes: A UK-based survey of practitioners

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science Education
• Higher Education Assessment

Background:

• Authentic assessment, mirroring real-world tasks, is growing in higher education.
• Preparing forensic science students for the workplace includes aligning academic assessment with professional training and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey current assessment methods used by forensic science practitioners.
• To identify gaps in university forensic science assessment strategies compared to workplace practices.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire was distributed to 60 forensic science practitioners.
• Assessment methods for theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the workplace were surveyed.
• The assessment regime of a BSc (Hons) Forensic Science program was audited.

Main Results:

• Observation by peers (76%) and competency testing (47%) are the most common methods for assessing practical skills.
• Theoretical knowledge is often assessed as part of practical or competency tests (69%).
• A significant gap identified was the lack of observed competency testing in the audited university program.

Conclusions:

• Forensic science programs should audit their assessments to align with workplace practices, particularly incorporating observed competency testing.
• While authentic assessment is valuable, not all assessments need to be authentic, as graduates require transferable skills for diverse careers.