A&S Teaching & Learning Community of Practice 2026-27: Rethinking Assessment: From Two-Stage Exams to Authentic Scientific Writing

From Summative to Formative: Implementing and Refining Two-Stage Exams in a Large Undergraduate Course

Presenters:

Marina Tawfik, Graduate Student Course Instructor, Department of Computer Science
Alice Gao, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science

Two-stage testing transforms traditional exams from stressful summative assessments to learning opportunities by integrating collaborative components. Students first complete a test independently, then within a group, with most weight placed on the individual portion. This approach provides multiple benefits including immediate feedback, reduced anxiety, and stronger peer learning. However, effective implementation requires careful design of group questions, grading schemes, and logistics. Drawing on experience in an upper-year machine learning course, the session shares implementation strategies, student feedback, iterative improvements, and practical recommendations for adapting two-stage testing across disciplines and class contexts.

Beyond the Literature Review: Modernizing Scientific Writing Assignments

Presenter: Naijin Li, Assistant Professor, Human Biology Program, Department of Cell & Systems Biology 

This session showcases an innovative scientific manuscript assignment developed for an advanced undergraduate neuroscience course. Replacing traditional literature reviews, the assignment engages students in an authentic research simulation – formulating a focused neurobiological question, designing an experimental pipeline, analyzing provided datasets, and communicating findings in a professional manuscript format, alongside a structured peer review component. By emphasizing data interpretation and scientific reasoning, the assignment mitigates inappropriate use of generative artificial intelligence tools while strengthening research and communication skills.