Meg O'Reilly [HREF1], Lecturer, Teaching and Learning Centre [HREF2] , PO Box 157, Southern Cross University [HREF3], NSW, 2480. moreilly@scu.edu.au
To address the need for critical research, and to target access to the wide range of resources in the field of online assessment practices in higher education now published on the Internet itself, a research project has recently commenced at Southern Cross University. This project aims to improve the online assessment practices of academic staff through reflective practice and action research. An accompanying website is under development to provide a directory of resources including examples of the practices and theories pertaining to assessment online, as well as links to published literature. The poster presentation will provide access to this resource directory and seek exchange of views and information by way of dialogue and survey.
Within the context of higher education where Internet connection is increasingly available, approaches to teaching and learning which are enhanced by online technologies are being widely trialled. In particular, online assessment has become of significant interest in the sector since it is claimed the productive potentials of the online environment cannot be fully appreciated until students are supported for online interaction and rewarded for their achievement of assessable tasks.
The outcomes of these trials to adopt technology for facilitating learning and assessment are commonly reported in conference papers and through published journals. However, the availability of critical research and that which provides a broader or more longitudinal perspective than "what we've done at our place, and how it worked" is urgently being sought (Mason, 2001). To address the need for critical research and to target access to the wide range of resources now published on the Internet itself, a couple of specific initiatives can be highlighted.
One major initiative being supported by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is a project to investigate effectiveness and issues emerging from the practices of online assessment. Outcomes of this research are expected towards the end of the year (see HREF4).
Another research project has recently commenced at Southern Cross University to look at improving the online assessment practices of academic staff through reflective practice and action research. This project is the basis for the author's doctoral thesis and to supplement this research a website is under construction. The website aims to provide a directory of resources including examples of the practices and theories pertaining to assessment online, as well as links to published literature. The facility to engage in online dialogue is also being made available through the website in order to create opportunities for informed discussion and the sharing of practical suggestions.
The poster presentation will provide access to this resource directory and seek exchange of views and information by way of dialogue and survey. The website can be found via a link from [HREF1]
Mason, R. (2001) Keynote presentation at Improving Student Learning Using Learning Technologies, 9th International Improving Student Learning Symposium, The Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development, Sept 2001, Edinburgh: Heriot-Watt University.