The Open University: ‘Rethinking Assessment in Classical Studies’
30 April 2026
at The Open University in Milton Keynes.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 23 February 2026.
The symposium on Rethinking Assessment in Classical Studies aims to bring together educational practitioners to explore ways in which assessment design for Classical Studies courses at Higher Education Institutions in the UK can respond to current pedagogical issues in the HE sector, for example, equality, diversity and inclusion, employability, Artificial Intelligence, or student mental health.
Classical Studies here is understood in its broadest sense as encompassing several disciplines (such as Literature, Languages, Archaeology, Ancient History, Reception etc.) that might be studied individually or in combination. In recent years, many academics in these disciplines have been experimenting with different forms of alternative and ‘authentic’ assessment, with students submitting work in the form of reports, videos, or proposals, or alternatively producing creative work, ranging from fiction to artwork and computer games. With this symposium we want to provide a forum for sharing good practice by reporting on innovative models of assessment already in place. We also want to offer a space for blue-sky thinking to spark new ideas and discuss potential challenges as well as benefits of innovating and diversifying assessment.
The symposium is part of a larger project which includes plans for an online resource containing examples of existing assessment tasks which address current pedagogical issues, and, possibly, a publication which will make the case for diversifying assessment in the discipline, provide a survey of innovative assessment practices in Classical Studies at UK universities and present case studies of selected examples.
We welcome proposals for
EITHER:
A twenty-minute presentation about an existing innovative assessment type at your institution
It would be helpful if you could include in your proposal:
- The subdiscipline(s) of Classical Studies (such as Literature, Languages, Archaeology, Ancient History, Reception etc.) that the assessment format you are talking about has been designed for;
- The pedagogical issue(s) this type of assessment aims to address.
OR:
A seven-minute lightning talk to prompt blue-sky thinking and discussion
This could be, for example, an idea for a new type of assessment which you would like to explore with other educational practitioners, a specific challenge you have encountered with existing assessment at your institution, or any more general thoughts on the purpose of assessment of Classical Studies, or its past, present and future.
Please submit your proposal by 23 February 2026 to one, or both, of the co-convenors:
Astrid Voigt James Robson
Senior Lecturer in Classical Studies Professor of Classical Studies
Astrid.Voigt@open.ac.uk James.Robson@open.ac.uk
Your proposal should be no longer than 350 words and include your name, institution and email address as well as the title for your presentation.
We welcome informal enquiries before the deadline and aim to confirm speakers w/b 02 March 2026.
Venue, Travel, and Catering
The Symposium will be held on the Open University Campus in Milton Keynes. Registration for the symposium will be free, and refreshments, including lunch, will be provided throughout the day. While participants, or their institutions, are generally expected to cover the costs for travel and accommodation, a small number of bursaries will be available to contribute to travel and / or childcare costs. Online participation will be enabled, too.
Please do contact us with any questions you might have. We look forward to hearing from you.
Note: this is not a Classical Association event – please contact the organisers directly with any enquiries.