E-Assessment in Portuguese Higher Education

Author(s):  
Lúcia Amante ◽  
Isolina Rosa Oliveira ◽  
Maria João Gomes

The new learning scenarios resulting from technological development and in particular of Web 2.0 make it necessary to rethink the teaching practices in higher education, namely at the level of assessment strategies aligned with more recent paradigms. The assessment of competences requires an approach where knowledge, abilities, and attitudes are integrated, implying the use of a variety of assessment strategies. What models can anchor this new assessment culture? How can one design an assessment program that guarantees the quality of this new approach? Based on a new theoretical framework for e-assessment in higher education, the authors construct and apply a survey aimed to identify the practices and the perspectives of the teachers, and the experiences and the perspectives of the students in public higher education institutions. In this chapter, the authors present and discuss the results obtained and advance a proposal for teacher training.

Author(s):  
Luís Tinoca ◽  
Alda Pereira ◽  
Isolina Oliveira

The assessment of competences requires an approach where knowledge, abilities, and attitudes are integrated, naturally implying the resource to a variety of assessment strategies. Within this context, we have seen the emergence of what has been called by several authors, the Assessment Culture. Furthermore, Higher Education e-learning environments have also promoted the use of new e-assessment strategies. Therefore, it is important to reconsider the concept of quality assessment in Higher Education online contexts, and particularly how to develop it in the present learning landscapes. In this chapter, the authors present a new conceptual framework for digital assessment in Higher Education supported by four dimensions—authenticity, consistency, transparency, and practicability—each composed by a set of criteria, aimed at promoting the quality of the assessment strategies being used. This framework was developed based on the expansion of the concept of validity supported by edumetric qualities.


Author(s):  
Isaura Sousa ◽  
Márcia Gouveia ◽  
Tatyanne Rodrigues ◽  
Fernando Lopes Silva Júnior ◽  
Ana Maria Ribeiro dos Santos ◽  
...  

The present study aimed to map the evidence to provide an overview of actions implemented/executed and scales used in public higher education institutions to promote worker health. A scoping review based on the PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) mnemonic was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Virtual Health Library (VHL). Population included workers from a higher education institution, the concept referred to studies focusing on the assessment of quality of life and health promotion actions and the context to higher education institutions. Electronic searches were held on December 2019. A qualitative synthesis of the data extracted from included studies (i.e. author, year, study design, sample, country, aims, action implemented/performed, thematic focus, evaluation) was performed. Electronic searches retrieved 3,330 articles that were screened by tittles and abstracts. Of these, 34 studies were fully appraised, of which four reported that actions implemented/executed related to sedentariness, posture and stress. The studies show 49 scales were identified to measuring at least one quality of life item. Through this scoping review the available evidence to provide an overview of actions implemented/executed and scales used in public higher education institutions to promote worker health. Future studies should consider more rigorous designs and objective measures to measure the quality of life of these professionals, and develop target interventions based on factors associated with the work. It is also necessary to evaluate whether the strategies work.


Author(s):  
Elżbieta Janczyk-Strzała

The basis of any business, including non-public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), is financial security, which is ensured by achieving sufficiently high profits and financial liquidity. Especially in these times, a rapidly changing market, the competition, and the upcoming birth rate forces HEIs to optimize operational and strategic decisions. On one hand, it creates new opportunities for non-public HEIs, but on the other, it is a source of danger for the future of their operations. Therefore, they must not only overcome the difficulties encountered in everyday life but also try to respond to the challenges posed by their environment, demonstrating the special care to ensure the efficiency of their operations. They must not only try to increase the quality of offered services or manage their funds rationally but with equal attention should “invest” in modern management methods and concepts. Through the use of controlling, contemporary non-public HEIs are able to choose an optimum variant of decision facilitating the achievement of their goals. In view of the above, this chapter discusses the special considerations relating to controlling HEIs from the point of view of increasing their effectiveness.


Author(s):  
Paula Peres ◽  
Sandra Ribeiro ◽  
Célia Tavares ◽  
Luciana Oliveira ◽  
Manuel Silva

This chapter aims to demonstrate how PAOL - Unit for Innovation in Education, a project from ISCAP - School of Accounting and Administration of Oporto - Institute Polytechnic of Oporto, Portugal - prompted new educational initiatives and new learning scenarios at a Higher Education Institution. Furthermore, it will demonstrate PAOL’s lines of intervention through an extensive analysis based on the 6 years of experience that this unit has in the educational technology field; a project that began small but that, due to the force of innovation, has progressively conquered new adepts. Therefore the unit described in this chapter relates all these factors, as a whole, capable of attaining changes that influence mentalities and methodologies, overcoming cultural and technical barriers. This case study can serve as a catalyst, potentiating the creation of new multi-faceted projects in the scope of web technologies in higher education teaching-learning processes.


Author(s):  
Japhet E. Lawrence

Higher education around the world are experiencing significant growth in student enrolment, as a result, educators face the daunting challenge of teaching larger classes, while improving the quality of instruction and subsequent value delivered to students. Large class can become a daunting task to any teacher who has never taught a large class before and teaching a large group of students can be intimidating for both students and lecturers. The purpose of this article is to identify effective teaching and assessment strategies to address the challenges of teaching in large class environment. It focusses on the idea of student engagement as a strategy to address the challenges faced by large class learning environments. By focusing on student engagement and adapting teaching and assessment strategies to promote critical thinking, it is possible to overcome the challenges posed by large class environments into opportunities for effective student learning. The study provides valuable direction for faculty faced with teaching and supporting large-class environments in higher education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Colin Borg

Abstract Objective: The aim of this paper is to analyse the extent of student involvement in higher education governance by considering Malta as a case study. When analysing participation within institutions, two main players are involved: students and staff. Methodology: The author uses a hybrid of methodological tools to analyse the subject matter. A review of the existing literature is compounded with document analysis and the collection of unpublished institutional data. Findings: Student participation in the governance of higher education institutions (HEIs) is becoming a pressing reality. Students, who are the institutional clients, are a crucial key player in the manner in which HEIs are governed and managed. Therefore, HEIs have an interest in ensuring effective student participation. Various mechanisms are available and student participation is not always at an optimum level. Value Added: This paper analyse in detail two main mechanisms of student participation: elections and academic feedback. A qualitative analysis is provided in order to measure the extent of participation. Elections are an important tool to elect student representatives while study-unit and course feedback provide valuable information to improve teaching and learning. Recommendations: Further research is required in order to determine the quality of student participation in academic boards and committees. Therefore, the quantitative analysis is to be embraced with qualitative data. Furthermore, HEIs are to study ways in which they can create more participatory tools within their complex governing arrangements. The issue of involving more established student societies, which are not intrinsically part of the governing structures, is also essential.


2011 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de Lourdes Machado-Taylor ◽  
Virgílio Meira Soares ◽  
José Brites Ferreira ◽  
Odília Maria Rocha Gouveia

An important constituent group and a key resource of higher education institutions (HEIs) is the faculty or academic staff. The centrality of the faculty role makes it a primary sculptor of institutional culture and has implications for the quality of the institution and therefore has a major role in achieving the objectives of the institution. Demand for academic staff in higher education has been increasing and may be expected to continue to increase. Moreover the performance of academic staff as teachers and researchers determines much of the student satisfaction and has an impact on student learning. There are many factors that serve to undermine the commitment of academics to their institutions and careers. Job satisfaction is important in revitalizing staff motivation and in keeping their enthusiasm alive. Well motivated academic staff can, with appropriate support, build a national and international reputation for themselves and the institution in the professional areas, in research and in publishing. This paper aims to identify the issues and their impacts on academic staff job satisfaction and motivation within Portuguese higher education institutions reporting an ongoing study financed by the European Union through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Marta Aleixo ◽  
Ulisses M. Azeiteiro ◽  
Susana Leal

Purpose The study aims to examine the vertical integration of the sustainable development goals (SGDs) in Portuguese public higher education institutions, namely, at the level of undergraduate and master’s degrees, and the extent to which Portuguese higher education institutions (HEI) are preparing for the United Nations’ call to promote SDGs. Design/methodology/approach A content analysis of the designations and objectives of the 2,556 undergraduate and master’s degrees (in 33 Portuguese public higher education institutions) was done to determine whether they promote at least one SDG. Findings The results show that 198 courses directly address at least one SDG; on average, each higher education institution (HEI) has six courses that explicitly address at least one SDG; universities have more courses in SDG areas than in polytechnics; more master’s degrees embrace SDGs than undergraduate degrees; and most of the courses addressing SDGs are from the social sciences and humanities areas and from natural and environmental sciences. Originality/value This paper serves to raise the awareness of Portuguese HEIs of their role and responsibility in furthering SGDs.


Author(s):  
SANDRA NARANJO ◽  

The article presents the conceptual differences around distance and virtual educational modalities in Colombia, analyzing the legal context under Law 30 of 1992 and Decree 1295 of 2010 that established two modalities in distance education: traditional distance and distance education. In addition, Decree 1075 of 2015 and 1280 of 2018 as a regulatory framework for higher education and its modalities, on the other hand, a historical journey is made highlighting the incidence of technological development, the use of ICT, offer of programs and indicators evaluation of the quality of both modalities.


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