An Account of the Use of Integrated Assessment for Students in the Area of Databases at Level 2

The purpose of this paper is to share innovative teaching methods at Leeds Metropolitan University in the Innovation north faculty of information and technology (INN faculty). The paper provides an account of the use of integrated assessment with a focus on the area of database teaching at level 2 in the INN faculty. Integrated assessments are also known as synoptic assessments. This type of assessment helps students to make connections between modules and aims to raise the level of student engagement with the curriculum. An explorative study has been undertaken to provide an initial evaluation of the use of synoptic assessments within the computing subject area. The analysis of the interviews indicates that students and also staff perceive the delivery pattern of block teaching and pairing of modules as beneficial. The paper concludes by offering an account of the benefits and issues to consider for those aiming implementing integrated assessments.