Rod Byrnes, School of Social Sciences, Southern Cross University. Email: rbyrnes@scu.edu.au
Allan Ellis, School of Social Sciences, Southern Cross University. Email: aellis@scu.edu.au
Web-based assessment, online assessment.
An exploratory study of assessment practices in Web-based educational delivery was undertaken at a regional Australian university. It involved the collection of interview data from academics, administrative staff and students, statistical data on course provision, as well as a review of the relevant literature. The University has a relatively long history of involvement with Web-based educational delivery and is already working with its second university-wide course management system.
While the basic concept of assessment via various Web-based tools is well understood by academic staff the reality is that very little use is being made of the available tools. There is clear evidence that staff development has been crucial to stimulating and supporting academics to teach via the Web therefore it is reasonable to assume that assessment practices could also be improved and extended if specifically targeted by training and staff development intitiatives.
It is suggested that several factors contribute to these low levels of use, these include: the absence of a holistic approach to assessment across the university; increased workload concerns; concerns for equity; and concerns about the quality of Web-based assessment tools and practices.
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