Martin Owen (t.m.owen@bangor.ac.uk)
Thu, 5 Nov 1998 15:00:42 +0000
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 15:00:42 +0000 From: Martin Owen <t.m.owen@bangor.ac.uk> Subject: Re: [ifets] assessment issues
John Eklund writes:
I've tried having the online discussions as assessment
>components too, and I believe it's a good approach, and one where an
>individual's work can easily be seen, but it is a bit difficult to assign a
>worth to a posting or to a series of them.
I mark regular undergraduate essays in areas which are vaguely social
science. These essays by theior nature have a degree of subjectivity in
their marking, although time honoured peer review of my marking, and that
fact my colleagues eem to get the same students in the same rank order
gives some confidence in the process.
I am explict to students about criteria:
They must cover and present the "obvious arguments" and demonstrate
knowledge of the significant and well known research on a topic.
To get higher marks they must evaluate the arguments, possibly drawing on a
wider range of resources, but certainly presenting a deeper reading what is
available.
To get higher marks still I expect there to be some synthesis of reading
and discussion and research beyond the "obvious"
To get higher marks I would expect the student to identify problems and
suggest new way forwards.
This is not the complete picture but sufficient to illustrate the point.
I expect the same things to happen in the course of reflecetive discussion
on-line. You might ask... "what if the quick student hogs and presents the
best arguments thus eliminating others from contributing that stuff??" The
answer is to provide some structure to the debate. Make provision for all
to write personal summaries , make provision for all to ask and answer
questions.
I offer some examples ( at a temporary site) at:
http://rem.bangor.ac.uk/~martin_owen/struct.html
Martin
Martin Owen
T.M.Owen@bangor.ac.uk
Director, Project REM
School of Education Yr Ysgol Addysg
University of Wales, Bangor Prifysgol Cymru, Bangor
Normal Site Safle'r Normal
Holyhead Rd Ffordd Caergybi
Bangor Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2PX
Voice/Llais +44 1248 382 943
Fax/Ffacs +44 1248 38 36 40
URL: http://weblife.bangor.ac.uk/rem/rem.html
REM is a EC DGXIII Telematics Education and Training Project
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