scholarly journals Engaging with assessment: Increasing student engagement through continuous assessment

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Holmes

Student engagement is intrinsically linked to two important metrics in learning: student satisfaction and the quality of the student experience. One of the ways that engagement can be influenced is through careful curriculum design. Using the knowledge that many students are ‘assessment-driven’, a low-stakes continuous weekly summative e-assessment was introduced to a module. The impact this had on student engagement was measured by studying student activity within the module virtual learning environment. It was found that introduction of the e-assessments led to a significant increase in virtual learning environment activity compared to the virtual learning environment activity in that module the previous year, and also compared to the virtual learning environment activity of two other modules studied by the same student cohort. As many institutions move towards greater blended or online deliveries, it will become more important to ensure that virtual learning environments encourage high levels of student engagement in order to maintain or enhance the student experience.

Author(s):  
Larrilyn L. Grant ◽  
Michael J. Opperman ◽  
Brennan Schiller ◽  
Jonathan Chastain ◽  
Jennelle Durnett Richardson ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-323
Author(s):  
Claudemir Sousa

RESUMO: As possibilidades oferecidas pelas ferramentas tecnológicas para a produção de texto afetam sobremaneira a concepção que temos de escrita e de autoria. Neste artigo, objetivamos discutir uma concepção dialógica de escrita e de autoria, tendo como objeto de análise uma interação virtual escrita realizada por estudantes de uma universidade pública do estado de São Paulo. Essa discussão está ancorada nos pressupostos teóricos de Mikhail Bakhtin e seus interlocutores contemporâneos acerca das categorias teóricas autor e dialogismo, bem como em estudos sobre os impactos do uso de ferramentas tecnológicas na produção textual para a relação com a escrita e a autoria, sobretudo em Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem. Concluímos que a escrita no Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem ocorre em um processo dialógico entre alunos, professor(es) e textos outros, havendo convergências ou divergências quando os alunos assumem o lugar de autor que organiza vozes.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: escrita; autoria; dialogismo; ambiente virtual de aprendizagem.ABSTRACT: The possibilities offered by the technological tools for the production of text greatly affect the conception we have of writing and authorship. In this article, we aim at discussing a dialogical conception of writing and authorship, by analyzing a virtual written interaction made by students of a public university in the state of São Paulo. This discussion is anchored in the theoretical assumptions of Mikhail Bakhtin and his contemporary interlocutors about the theoretical categories of author and dialogism, as well as on studies about the impact of the use of technological tools in textual production on the relationship with writing and the authorship, especially in virtual learning environments. We conclude that writing in the Virtual Learning Environment occurs in a dialogical process between students, teacher(s) and other texts, occurring convergences or divergences when students take the place of author who organizes voices.KEYWORDS: writing; authorship; dialogism; virtual learning environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Poliana Nunes Wanderlei ◽  
Erik Montagna

ABSTRACT Objective To formulate and to implement a virtual learning environment course in patient safety, and to propose ways to estimate the impact of the course in patient safety outcomes. Methods The course was part of an accreditation process and involved all employees of a public hospital in Brazil. The whole hospital staff was enrolled in the course. The accreditation team defined the syllabus. The education guidelines were divided into 12 modules related to quality, patient safety and required organizational practices. The assessment was performed at the end of each module through multiple-choice tests. The results were estimated according to occurrence of adverse events. Data were collected after the course, and employees’ attitude was surveyed. Results More than 80% of participants reached up to 70% success on tests after the course; the event-reporting rate increased from 714 (16,264 patients) to 1,401 (10,180 patients). Conclusion Virtual learning environment was a successful tool data. Data on course evaluation is consistent with increase in identification and reporting of adverse events. Although the report increment is not positive per si, it indicates changes in patient safety culture.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (31) ◽  
pp. 226-239
Author(s):  
Alvaro Martins Fernandes Júnior ◽  
Jorge Luiz Bernardi

RESUMO Considerando o cenário da Educação a Distância no Brasil e sua importância enquanto possibilidade de democratização da educação superior, este texto tece reflexões a respeito do papel do tutor nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem, usuais em cursos oferecidos nesta modalidade. O texto inicia com algumas ponderações filosóficas que revelam a influência que o conhecimento (ou sua falta), exerce sobre a humanidade, considerando-se que é pela construção de conhecimento que se favorece a superação de desigualdades e melhor qualidade de vida. Nesse sentido, apresenta-se a modalidade a distância como possibilidade de autonomia e emancipação social, sendo necessário pensar a respeito do papel do tutor neste horizonte. Finalmente o texto conceitua ambiente virtual de aprendizagem, preconizando alguns princípios relevantes na aprendizagem de adultos.   Palavras-chave: Educação a distância e tutoria. Tecnologia e educação. Ambiente Virtual de aprendizagem.   ABSTRACT Considering the scenario of Distance Education in Brazil and its importance as a possibility for the democratization of higher education, this text reflects on the role of the tutor in the virtual learning environments, usual in courses offered in this modality. The text begins with some philosophical considerations that reveal the influence that knowledge (or its lack), exerts on humanity, considering that it is by the construction of knowledge that favors the overcoming of inequalities and better quality of life. In this sense, the distance modality is presented as a possibility of autonomy and social emancipation, being necessary to think about the role of the tutor in this horizon. Finally, the text conceptualizes virtual learning environment, advocating some relevant principles in adult learning.   Key words: Distance education and tutoring. Technology and education. Virtual learning environment.   RESUMEN Considerando el escenario de la Educación a Distancia en Brasil y su importancia como posibilidad de democratización de la educación superior, este texto teje reflexiones acerca del papel del tutor en los ambientes virtuales de aprendizaje, usuales en cursos ofrecidos en esta modalidad. El texto comienza con algunas ponderaciones filosóficas que revelan la influencia que el conocimiento (o su falta), ejerce sobre la humanidad, considerando que es por la construcción de conocimiento que se favorece la superación de desigualdades y mejor calidad de vida. En ese sentido, se presenta la modalidad a distancia como posibilidad de autonomía y emancipación social, siendo necesario pensar acerca del papel del tutor en este horizonte. Finalmente el texto conceptualiza ambiente virtual de aprendizaje, preconizando algunos principios relevantes en el aprendizaje de adultos.   Palabras clave: Educación a distancia y tutoría. Tecnología y educación. Entorno virtual de aprendizaje. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22169/revint.v14i31.1585


Author(s):  
Roza Ghaemi ◽  
Gabrielle Lam

Student engagement is believed to be related to students’ meaningful learning, persistence andsatisfaction. Although its importance is well recognized, student engagement patterns in the virtual learning environment are not well understood, particularly in online courses that offer both synchronous and asynchronous paths. The purpose of this study is to characterize studentonline engagement in a team-based project-centric course, in terms of behavioral, cognitive, emotional, social and collaborative dimensions. Data from tracking logs and student interviews will be analyzed to elucidate any relationships between the various dimensions of online engagement.


Author(s):  
Phil Race

We live and work in challenging times. Now that it seems certain (post Browne, 2010) that the fees students pay for their higher education experience will double (or worse), we can't be surprised that the emphasis on 'the student experience' of higher education will intensify. Whether students are saddling themselves with ever-increasing amounts of debt to afford that higher education experience, or whether it is parents who foot the bill, the spotlight continues to focus ever more sharply on student satisfaction, alongside all available measures of the quality of student engagement in higher education. We already have league tables in which the reflection of the student experience as gained from the National Student Survey features prominently. And with diminishing budgets for teaching, class sizes are likely to continue to grow - in those disciplines where higher education survives least scathed. So how can we meet the challenge of 'getting students engaged'?


Author(s):  
Muzammal Ahmad Khan

The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed an unprecedented disruption in global education. The sudden imposition of a lockdown led to rapid changes being made to learning, teaching, and assessment (LTA) approaches used by universities and other educational institutions, and added stress and anxiety to many students and academics. This chapter uses the findings from an online questionnaire to assess the impact of these changes on students at UK universities. It considers both their quantitative and qualitative responses to identify the key issues they faced and, in examining their experiences, allowing recommendations to be made to universities on how they can improve the support for their students. These recommendations are developed from those which the student participants themselves suggest.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Powell ◽  
Nicholas McGuigan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present critical educator reflections on the pivot from the traditional physical accounting classroom to the virtual learning environment amidst COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Design/methodology/approach This paper outlines the reflexive experiences of two accounting educators on their scholarly journey into virtual learning and their inhabiting of the virtual accounting classroom. We adopt a critical stance in exploring what has been lost and insights gained. Findings We heed caution in the ongoing reliance on digital technologies and virtual learning that strip accounting education of its richness and complexity. Although the virtual learning environment brings with it benefits of accessibility and flexibility, it fails to replace the complexity of human connection, authenticity and informal spontaneity found in face-to-face learning. We further contend that COVID-19 presents an opportunity to rethink accounting education. We encourage educators to embrace this opportunity as a force for educational transformation; to reimagine an accounting education that embraces change, ambiguity and humanistic qualities such as empathy, compassion and humility. Originality/value Our critical educator reflections explore the impact of COVID-19 on the humanistic qualities at the heart of education and on the future of accounting education. This paper contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning during global pandemics and other crises.


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