Special Interest Group Newsletter

Overview 🔎

I was enlisted by the Special Interest Group (SIG) Chairperson to create a newsletter for the Assessment and Testing SIG at the South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Conference 2023. The newsletter aimed to capture attendees’ attention and encourage them to attend their session at the conference to discuss future projects and plans. Given the highly competitive nature of academic conferences, where multiple sessions run simultaneously, the challenge was to make their session stand out.

Project Details 🤝

The newsletter was strategically designed to:

• Clearly communicate the SIG’s purpose and impact – Highlighting its role in promoting effective assessment and testing to improve decision-making in education.

• Showcase past achievements – Including capacity development workshops, collaborative initiatives, and SIG panels from previous years.

• Introduce future plans – Featuring discussions on expanding the SIG’s mandate, forming partnerships with the National Longitudinal Teacher Pedagogical Study, and launching capacity-building programs.

• Increase engagement – By listing key contributors, publications, and contact information, the newsletter created a sense of community and encouraged participation beyond the conference.

Results ✨

The newsletter successfully grabbed attendees’ attention, leading to increased visibility for the SIG and strong attendance at the session. It effectively positioned the SIG as a leader in assessment research and testing while fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and educators.

Conclusion 💥

This project demonstrated the power of strategic communication in academic spaces. By designing a visually engaging and content-rich newsletter, I helped drive engagement and ensure the SIG’s presence was felt at the conference. The experience reinforced the importance of clear, compelling messaging in crowded academic environments.

See the newsletter here 📌