Project Assessment Criteria

Normally projects have 4 elements which can contribute to the assessment:  The product and its documentation  The student’s report on the process  The supervisor’s view of the student’s overall approach to the project  The student’s ability to present and demonstrate the project

Criteria used in assessing elements of the project will vary from project to project but general questions would include: Quality of the product & its documentation  Is it clear what the deliverable(s) is?  Is it well described/easily understood?  Has it been produced professionally (to standards etc,)?  Does it work? Is it usable?

 How difficult was the problem?  Is the solution or conclusion forward looking and intelligent?  Is it internally consistent  Does it clearly identify the client and his/her requirements?  Is the solution novel?  How original is the research question?

Quality of the report on the process:  Is it well structured and easy to read?  Is the academic level appropriate?  Is there evidence of reading around/investigation of other products/literature searching etc?  Are the references clearly defined and properly referenced?

 Does it clearly reflect on the project process, showing achievements in overcoming difficulties?  Does it evaluate the achievement against the original objectives?  Is it self critical?  Does it identify alternative methods of approach and give reasons for the eventual choice?  Does it demonstrate how much has been learnt?  Is there clear evidence of planning & control of the process?

Supervisor’s assessment of student performance  Understanding of the project: ◦ What is the student’s level of understanding of the project as a whole? ◦ What is the student’s level of understanding of the individual parts of the project?

 Effort ◦ How regularly has the student attended arranged meetings with supervisor? ◦ To what degree has student carried out work expected of him? ◦ ………carried out work beyond what was expected? ◦ To what degree has the work been carried out effectively?

 Quality of work: ◦ What has been the level of competence displayed by the student? ◦ Has the student made any original contribution to the project?

 Management of project ◦ To what degree has the student needed to be directed? ◦ To what degree has the student needed comprehensive instruction? ◦ To what degree has the student been able to suggest the best lines of approach to the project & most appropriate techniques? ◦ How has the student handled problems/difficulties?

 Presentation/demonstration ◦ Is the presentation clear and well structured? ◦ Is it easy to understand what the project is about? ◦ Does the student fully understand what the project is about? ◦ Does the product work? ◦ Can the student explain the problems encountered ◦ Can the student answer questions intelligently on the project?