{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7125699080","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","title":"Do Synoptic Assessments Lead to Authentic Learning? A Critical Perspective on Integration and Intentionality in Higher Education Assessment Design","display_name":"Do Synoptic Assessments Lead to Authentic Learning? A Critical Perspective on Integration and Intentionality in Higher Education Assessment Design","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-01-26","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7125699080","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.3390/educsci16020187","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/16/2/187/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2738008561","display_name":"Education Sciences","issn_l":"2227-7102","issn":["2227-7102"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","erih-plus","norway-1"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Education Sciences","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/16/2/187/pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5067293831","display_name":"David Tree","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8427-3334","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8427-3334"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I59433898","display_name":"Brunel University of London","ror":"https://ror.org/00dn4t376","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I124357947","https://openalex.org/I59433898"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"David Tree","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8427-3334","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I59433898"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5045110307","display_name":"Nicholas T. Worsfold","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8115-1765","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8115-1765"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I59433898","display_name":"Brunel University of London","ror":"https://ror.org/00dn4t376","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I124357947","https://openalex.org/I59433898"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Nicholas Worsfold","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8115-1765","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I59433898"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":1,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5067293831"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I59433898"],"apc_list":{"value":1800,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":2172},"apc_paid":{"value":1800,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":2172},"fwci":45.8686,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":2,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.99376694,"is_in_top_1_percent":true,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":96,"max":97},"biblio":{"volume":"16","issue":"2","first_page":"187","last_page":"187"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10959","display_name":"Student Assessment and Feedback","score":0.8422999978065491,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3304","display_name":"Education"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10959","display_name":"Student Assessment and Feedback","score":0.8422999978065491,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3304","display_name":"Education"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12884","display_name":"Educational Assessment and Pedagogy","score":0.08309999853372574,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3304","display_name":"Education"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11039","display_name":"Evaluation of Teaching Practices","score":0.026100000366568565,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3304","display_name":"Education"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/authentic-learning","display_name":"authentic learning","score":0.9819999933242798},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/assessment-design","display_name":"assessment design","score":0.9440000057220459},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/curriculum-integration","display_name":"curriculum integration","score":0.8100000023841858},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/scaffolding","display_name":"scaffolding","score":0.8560000061988831},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/student-agency","display_name":"student agency","score":0.9860000014305115},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/assessment-reform","display_name":"assessment reform","score":0.7480000257492065},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/lifelong-learning","display_name":"lifelong learning","score":0.6159999966621399},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/undergraduate-assessment","display_name":"undergraduate assessment","score":0.5609999895095825},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/professional-relevance","display_name":"professional relevance","score":0.46399998664855957}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C47177190","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207137","display_name":"Curriculum","level":2,"score":0.6347000002861023},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120912362","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136822","display_name":"Higher education","level":2,"score":0.49729999899864197},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C55587333","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1133029","display_name":"Engineering ethics","level":1,"score":0.48739999532699585},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C12713177","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1900281","display_name":"Perspective (graphical)","level":2,"score":0.4521999955177307},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776016342","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q866928","display_name":"Authentic assessment","level":3,"score":0.4499000012874603},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C19417346","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7922","display_name":"Pedagogy","level":1,"score":0.44110000133514404},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2781181686","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4226068","display_name":"Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy)","level":2,"score":0.36390000581741333},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C20574239","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7834033","display_name":"Transferable skills analysis","level":3,"score":0.3537999987602234},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.3474000096321106},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.3443000018596649},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780896845","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17152984","display_name":"Authentic learning","level":2,"score":0.336899995803833},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41608201","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q980509","display_name":"Embedding","level":2,"score":0.3260999917984009},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779011557","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16911265","display_name":"Curriculum development","level":3,"score":0.32330000400543213},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C56739046","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192060","display_name":"Knowledge management","level":1,"score":0.32249999046325684},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C194995250","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q531136","display_name":"Affordance","level":2,"score":0.3167000114917755},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C156325361","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1152864","display_name":"Grounded theory","level":3,"score":0.3165999948978424},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C108771440","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q368475","display_name":"Lifelong learning","level":2,"score":0.3156999945640564},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C132413290","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7307322","display_name":"Reflective practice","level":2,"score":0.31130000948905945},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C26517878","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228039","display_name":"Key (lock)","level":2,"score":0.31040000915527344},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C51067260","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q828812","display_name":"Professional development","level":2,"score":0.29589998722076416},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C164065428","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1201929","display_name":"Core competency","level":2,"score":0.2957000136375427},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2989099063","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q667334","display_name":"Learning design","level":2,"score":0.29510000348091125},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190248442","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486","display_name":"Qualitative research","level":2,"score":0.29499998688697815},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C26713055","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q245962","display_name":"Implementation","level":2,"score":0.29339998960494995},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15744967","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418","display_name":"Psychology","level":0,"score":0.2865999937057495},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C92393732","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1790374","display_name":"Learning theory","level":2,"score":0.2831000089645386},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C188231857","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2585724","display_name":"Educational assessment","level":2,"score":0.28130000829696655},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C42525527","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1209955","display_name":"Formative assessment","level":2,"score":0.27970001101493835},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C184356942","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q830382","display_name":"Best practice","level":2,"score":0.2757999897003174},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C100776233","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2532492","display_name":"Bridge (graph theory)","level":2,"score":0.27399998903274536},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C539667460","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2414942","display_name":"Management science","level":1,"score":0.27239999175071716},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159456220","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q667334","display_name":"Instructional design","level":2,"score":0.2694999873638153},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C5041995","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q853745","display_name":"Engineering education","level":2,"score":0.26829999685287476},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86251818","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q816754","display_name":"Benchmarking","level":2,"score":0.26570001244544983},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778310160","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4896466","display_name":"Meaningful learning","level":2,"score":0.2651999890804291},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776505523","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4785468","display_name":"Plan (archaeology)","level":2,"score":0.25870001316070557},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C88610354","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1813494","display_name":"Teaching method","level":2,"score":0.250900000333786}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":3,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.3390/educsci16020187","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/16/2/187/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2738008561","display_name":"Education Sciences","issn_l":"2227-7102","issn":["2227-7102"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","erih-plus","norway-1"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Education Sciences","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:bura.brunel.ac.uk:2438/32828","doi":null,"is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32828","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401473","display_name":"Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I59433898","host_organization_name":"Brunel University of London","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I59433898"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:doaj.org/article:c4d750b1a1d14bd4a55e49969da369ea","doi":null,"is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doaj.org/article/c4d750b1a1d14bd4a55e49969da369ea","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401280","display_name":"DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Education Sciences, Vol 16, Iss 2, p 187 (2026)","raw_type":"article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.3390/educsci16020187","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020187","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/16/2/187/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2738008561","display_name":"Education Sciences","issn_l":"2227-7102","issn":["2227-7102"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","erih-plus","norway-1"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Education Sciences","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"score":0.9901999831199646,"display_name":"Quality education","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/4"}],"sustainable_development_goals_aurora":[{"score":0.7163352966308594,"display_name":"Quality education","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/4"}],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":true,"grobid_xml":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7125699080.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7125699080.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":16,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1967747674","https://openalex.org/W2016950538","https://openalex.org/W2056855739","https://openalex.org/W2061430993","https://openalex.org/W2108463896","https://openalex.org/W2157804766","https://openalex.org/W2164599981","https://openalex.org/W2779635827","https://openalex.org/W4245961435","https://openalex.org/W4387771024","https://openalex.org/W4401382561","https://openalex.org/W4402055247","https://openalex.org/W4402918453","https://openalex.org/W4406768329","https://openalex.org/W4408225423","https://openalex.org/W4410613515"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Synoptic":[0],"assessment":[1,27,57,89,185,204,238],"has":[2],"gained":[3],"prominence":[4],"in":[5,62,162,209],"higher":[6],"education":[7],"as":[8,216,226],"a":[9,50],"way":[10],"to":[11,18,136,152,194,219],"bridge":[12],"fragmented":[13],"curricula":[14,250],"by":[15],"enabling":[16,173],"students":[17,138],"synthesize":[19],"knowledge":[20],"across":[21],"modules.":[22],"However,":[23],"structural":[24],"integration":[25,67,99,225],"through":[26,167],"does":[28],"not":[29,97],"automatically":[30],"produce":[31],"authentic":[32,59,94,231],"learning.":[33,222],"Drawing":[34],"on":[35,54],"theoretical":[36],"analysis":[37,80],"and":[38,58,68,85,113,149,177,212,240,247],"three":[39],"reflective":[40],"case":[41,117],"studies":[42,118],"from":[43,98,103],"UK":[44],"undergraduate":[45],"programmes,":[46],"this":[47],"paper":[48,192],"offers":[49],"critical":[51,235],"practitioner":[52,163],"perspective":[53],"how":[55],"synoptic":[56,124,203],"learning":[60,95],"intersect":[61],"practice.":[63],"We":[64,156],"argue":[65],"that":[66,74,93,120,134],"authenticity":[69,166,201],"represent":[70],"distinct":[71],"pedagogical":[72],"imperatives":[73],"require":[75],"deliberate":[76],"alignment.":[77],"Through":[78],"comparative":[79],"of":[81,88,190,237],"successful,":[82,84],"partially":[83],"unsuccessful":[86],"implementations":[87],"strategies,":[90],"we":[91,233],"demonstrate":[92],"emerges":[96],"per":[100],"se,":[101],"but":[102,130,228],"intentional":[104],"design":[105,159,197],"embedding":[106,165,200],"real-world":[107],"relevance,":[108,169],"developmental":[109],"scaffolding,":[110],"clear":[111],"purpose,":[112],"student":[114,175],"agency.":[115],"Our":[116],"reveal":[119],"without":[121],"such":[122,215],"intentionality,":[123],"assessments":[125],"risk":[126],"becoming":[127],"structurally":[128],"coherent":[129],"pedagogically":[131],"hollow":[132],"exercises":[133],"fail":[135],"engage":[137],"meaningfully.":[139],"Key":[140],"challenges":[141],"include":[142],"inconsistent":[143],"staff":[144],"understanding,":[145],"inadequate":[146],"contextual":[147],"framing,":[148],"insufficient":[150,229],"attention":[151],"progressive":[153],"capability":[154],"development.":[155],"propose":[157],"practical":[158],"principles":[160,198],"grounded":[161],"experience:":[164],"professional":[168],"scaffolding":[170],"complexity":[171],"appropriately,":[172],"open-ended":[174],"responses,":[176],"establishing":[178],"strong":[179],"programme-level":[180],"leadership":[181],"with":[182],"authority":[183],"over":[184],"strategy.":[186],"The":[187],"core":[188],"contribution":[189],"the":[191],"is":[193],"articulate":[195],"these":[196],"for":[199,230],"within":[202],"at":[205],"programme":[206,245],"level,":[207],"particularly":[208],"increasingly":[210,248],"modularised":[211],"flexible":[213],"curricula,":[214],"those":[217],"designed":[218],"enable":[220],"lifelong":[221],"By":[223],"positioning":[224],"necessary":[227],"learning,":[232],"advance":[234],"understanding":[236],"reform":[239],"address":[241],"emerging":[242],"tensions":[243],"between":[244],"coherence":[246],"modularized":[249],"serving":[251],"diverse":[252],"learner":[253],"pathways.":[254]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":2}],"updated_date":"2026-10-06T10:28:23.643775","created_date":"2026-01-27T00:00:00"}
