ADVENTURES USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE FEEDBACK & ASSESSMENT Dr Stephen Gomez University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol

Profile e-portfolio & accreditation of placement learning Overcoming barriers to tradition

Accreditation of placement learning Drivers for accreditationBarriers to accreditation High quality of learning [>L3]. Decreased uptake of placement opportunities. Integration of the Sandwich year in the modular scheme. Higher emphasis on work- based learning & employability. ‘Cannot be done’ because of diversity of experience. Quality assurance issues. Mind-set of some colleagues; organisational culture ‘never been done’. Shift in distribution of credit in the programme. Cost in time & money to administer.

Profile e-portfolio Individual student’s portfolio Academic TutorWork Supervisor Placement details H&S form Learning agreement Task form

Communication & feedback

‘Clickers’, instant feedback & continuous assessment Engaging students in assessment & feedback

Continuous assessment & instant feedback Drivers for changeBarriers to change Brain Biology & Behaviour; 2 semesters; essay each semester + end of year exam; Essay assignments: ◦ Snap-shot of learning ◦ Similar content, tedious to mark ◦ Difficult to assess objectively ◦ Lengthy feedback time Increased workload ◦ Setting questions ◦ Marking answers Student compliance Student preference for essays

Clickers & continuous assessment Participant remote Presenter remote Receiver laptop Semester 1 Semester 2 10 end of lecture tests 10 end of lecture tests Best 5 results Assignment mark 50% module mark

Advantages  Record students’ attendance  Provide rapid feedback to students  Student can see class performance & their position  Opportunity for revision  Student ‘active’ engagement  Feedback to lecturer on his/her performance

Audio feedback Getting your feedback across

Traditional essay feedback good Improve here What does this mean? Its does not have an apostrophe   

Audio feedback #3 #2 #1

Audio feedback Advantages of audio feedbackDisadvantages Oral feedback more natural than written More personal More information can be given Emphasis can be made A record of feedback can be kept Marking can be completed faster Relationship change; more mentor/coach Requires processing of files Requires a computer or digital voice recorder Listening to your recorded voice

Future challenges  Increasing diversity of students.  Next generation brought up on the internet & computer games.  Ever changing expectations of students.  Students don’t tell us what they expect; continuous exploration  The fun part of an adventure is in the:  Journey & exploration  Dangers faced & to be overcome  This event is a ‘chapter’ in a shared adventure to find the holy grail of academia.  So happy hunting!