Post on 21-Dec-2015
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 5
How important are assignments?
Do we have to know this for the
exam?
Do we have to know this for the
exam?
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 6
Course design in the olden days
Lectures to cover as much content as you can
Lots of ‘formative’ assignments LEARNING
End of year exams
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 7
Reduced class contact time
Lots of formative assignments
Module assignments or exams
Where’s the Where’s the learning gone?learning gone?
Where’s the Where’s the learning gone?learning gone?
Course Design NOW
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 8
If you can’t beat them, join them
Content Assignment
Assignment Content
Module Design Change
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 9
Learning activities students need in
preparation for the assignment
Module assignment
Assignment Based Course Design
Two formative assignments
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 10
Completion of Formative Assignments
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3
Academic year: 2002-3
NOTE: Approximate figures. N=c.30
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 11
I feel happy about . . .• Face validity - there is a clear relationship of the final
assessment to real-world tasks. There is also a clear relationship between the formative learning tasks and the final assessment
• Using group work and peer assessment for formative (unmarked) assignments - it’s not so threatening when marks don’t count.
• My role – which is supportive and consultative. This is less stressful than upfront delivery.
• Using IT as a platform for the communication and delivery – provides students with an information resource and a communication medium. Students who have problems attending appreciate this.
• Student uptake of the formative work.• Student feedback is positive.
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 12
It was good to have our own tasks to go and complete and it meant that we all had to be
reliable and put the effort in for the sake of the other
group members.
It was good to have our own tasks to go and complete and it meant that we all had to be
reliable and put the effort in for the sake of the other
group members.
Comments
I found when working with my particular group very helpful, as it make me contribute more especially when doing our powerpoint assignment
I found when working with my particular group very helpful, as it make me contribute more especially when doing our powerpoint assignment
i found the assignments and comments very useful in expanding my knowledge
i found the assignments and comments very useful in expanding my knowledge
I would not have been able to do as well as I did on a
personal level, albeit, that it was not brilliant anyway, if I
had not made the effort on the first two assignments.
Therefore I have found it very useful to complete the
formative assignments.
I would not have been able to do as well as I did on a
personal level, albeit, that it was not brilliant anyway, if I
had not made the effort on the first two assignments.
Therefore I have found it very useful to complete the
formative assignments.
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 13
On GroupsWorking in different groups is useful as different people know different things so i learnt more . . . than by just being with the same people. It is nice to work with people you wouldn't normally work with.
Working in different groups is useful as different people know different things so i learnt more . . . than by just being with the same people. It is nice to work with people you wouldn't normally work with.
i think working with the different groups gave people the chance to look at how other people approach tasks and team
work and to find out what skills they are good at and their own weaknesses whereas in the groups that people
normally work, who usually consist of the same people, they have their set
role already such as organiser, leader etc..
i think working with the different groups gave people the chance to look at how other people approach tasks and team
work and to find out what skills they are good at and their own weaknesses whereas in the groups that people
normally work, who usually consist of the same people, they have their set
role already such as organiser, leader etc..
It was interesting to work with group members who we wouldn't necessarily choose ourselves. Personally I felt it was a pleasant surprise and found it easy to carry out the task without that causing any problems. I do however think that when you choose your own group they are usually people you respect and trust and probably find it easier to criticise or find fault with, which allows for things to be altered and improved if someone doesn't agree.
It was interesting to work with group members who we wouldn't necessarily choose ourselves. Personally I felt it was a pleasant surprise and found it easy to carry out the task without that causing any problems. I do however think that when you choose your own group they are usually people you respect and trust and probably find it easier to criticise or find fault with, which allows for things to be altered and improved if someone doesn't agree.
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 14
The [formative] assignments really helped me with my final
assignment as I looked back on them while doing it. Having all
this information available on blackboard was particularly
helpful.
The [formative] assignments really helped me with my final
assignment as I looked back on them while doing it. Having all
this information available on blackboard was particularly
helpful.
More
I’ve definitely learnt. It’s met my needs through other work I’ve had to do, or at least given me a range of options when looking to fulfil criteria in modules and assignments and the style of teaching was excellent too, you went at your own pace with support when required, with also an incentive to achieve a high quality piece or work, through examples of other people’s past work. And during the IT modules, people were discussing their ideas, learning from each other and teaching each other what they've discovered.
I’ve definitely learnt. It’s met my needs through other work I’ve had to do, or at least given me a range of options when looking to fulfil criteria in modules and assignments and the style of teaching was excellent too, you went at your own pace with support when required, with also an incentive to achieve a high quality piece or work, through examples of other people’s past work. And during the IT modules, people were discussing their ideas, learning from each other and teaching each other what they've discovered.
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 15
I still worry about . . .• How can I cope with the stress of design and
preparation peaks pre-semester?• How can I schedule the assignment submission dates
to maximise participation?• How can I decide whether work should be privately
shared (within groups) or publicly shared (with whole class).
• Where do I draw the line between students working together and ‘colluding’?
• How can I provide feedback on formative work without significantly increasing my workload?
• Am I dumbing down?
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 16
How to provide feedback?
• Students read each others’ answers *****• Verbal feedback in group presentation sessions ****• Peer assessment ***• Release of model answers ***• Generalised feedback - **
- the more stars the less work?
WITHOUT significantly increasing my workload
Apr 18, 2023 Sandra Windeatt, Online Services, UNN 17
Am I dumbing down?
POSTGRADUATEStudent
Assessment interferes with our
learning . .
Assessment interferes with our
learning . .
“students oriented towards meaning feel themselves least likely to do well when the workload is heavy and there is little freedom in learning”, (Entwistle & Ramsden, 1983, p.190)