Placement assessment in higher education is commonly based on in-person observation, providing a limited snapshot of students’ practice. The presence of an external assessor can influence student behaviour which may encourage the enactment of expected behaviours rather than everyday professional practice, raising concerns about its authenticity (Gitomer et al., 2014). This highlights the need for alternative methods that can better capture students’ lived experiences on placement.

This presentation explores the potential of adapting participant-worn video methods for assessing students on placements. Video methods are increasingly used in qualitative research to capture lived experiences. Wearable cameras, such as GoPros, enable participants to document their own perspectives, engage in process consent, and maintain control over the data being collected (Richardson, 2019; Keegan, 2024). This approach also offers assessors the potential to access professional practice that may be unseen during scheduled observation visits (O’Leary, 2024).

This is a conceptual, research-informed exploration of how participant-worn GoPros could complement existing approaches for placement assessment. It considers ethical and practical implications, including consent, privacy, and data management. It also outlines how the effectiveness of such approaches might be considered, including the depth of insight into everyday student practice, whether they support reflective student engagement, and their usefulness in informing and meeting assessment outcomes.

Key limitations are acknowledged, including the physical constraints of wearing GoPros, digital literacy requirements related to data sharing, and the ethical complexities of recording in educational contexts that may include children. This discussion advances debates on innovative assessment methods in higher education.

Authors:
Chloë Keegan, Dublin City University, Ireland

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Chloë Keegan is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education at Dublin City University, Ireland.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-keegan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark