scholarly journals Competency-Based Evaluation in Higher Education—Design and Use of Competence Rubrics by University Educators

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia-Concepción Velasco-Martínez ◽  
Juan-Carlos Tójar-Hurtado

Competency-based learning requires making changes in the higher education model in response to current socio-educational demands. Rubrics are an innovative educational tool for competence evaluation, for both students and educators. Ever since arriving at the university systems, the application of rubrics in evaluation programs has grown progressively. However, there is yet to be a solid body of knowledge regarding the use of rubrics as an evaluation tool. This study analyzes the use of rubrics by 150 teachers at 5 Spanish universities. The comparative analysis allows us to determine how these rubrics are being used to assess (or not) competencies. This study examines the educators’ intentions and the pedagogical aspects that are considered in the design and application of rubrics. The results and conclusions may lead to suggestions for improvements and strategies that may be implemented by university professors when creating appropriate competency-based scoring rubrics.

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110566
Author(s):  
Sophia Alim

Although the web accessibility of universities around the world is well documented, much remains unknown about this aspect of higher education institutions in the UK. Using three automated web accessibility tools (TAW, WAVE and EIII Page Checker), this study explores the accessibility of the homepages of 66 research-intensive universities with respect to the WCAG 2.0 checkpoints. The results show that the most common checkpoint violations involve the provision of text alternatives for non-text content, contrast errors and the need to increase the computability of webpages with future technologies and tools. The results show that there are variations between UK universities, and there is some evidence of consistent compliance amongst the university homepages. However, when evaluated against results from similar studies of web accessibility in other countries, these web pages perform well. Overall, this study adds to the body of knowledge on web accessibility in higher education in the UK.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Ferreira de Mello Silva ◽  
Eduardo Raupp de Vargas

Purpose This study aims to examine the extant literature to analyze the relationship between quality assurance (QA) and innovation in the higher education context. Design/methodology/approach This study selected 63 articles through a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science databases and performed a descriptive and thematic synthesis-analysis on the sample. Findings The research identifies several perspectives discussed on QA systems covering experiences, criticisms and practice implications. The literature review shows there is no clear consensus on whether innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs) is fostered or hindered by QA processes. However, it seems that the likelihood of innovativeness and positive QA outcomes are directly linked to how these processes are managed in universities. Research limitations/implications This review highlights the university management concerns that emerge with QA issues as it is not yet clear to what extent innovation is actually promoted in scenarios where QA is applied. Hence, this literature review could be considered comprehensive but not exhaustive. Further studies are recommended to improve the understanding of how HEIs can both innovate and ensure quality at the same time. Originality/value The paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by advancing the opportunities and challenges that HEIs face due to QA system features.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olesia Tomchuk ◽  
Viktoriia Tserklevych ◽  
Olena Hurman ◽  
Valentin Petrenko ◽  
Kateryna Chymosh

The article discusses the potential opportunities for leaders of higher education to monitor and implement development management functions using a system of key performance indicators, which is often used by various business entities. The authors adapted it to the needs of higher education institutions, integrating them with their characteristics.The formation of a system of key performance indicators in the article is disclosed from the point of view of improving the management system and motivation of the management and teaching staff of higher education. Approbation of the proposed methodology was implemented in the Institution of Higher Education, where it showed its effectiveness. The new system allowed the university professors to influence directly on the bonus part of income through their own work and efficiency.


Author(s):  
Laura Aymerich-Franch

This chapter analyses privacy concerns of students and faculty resulting from the adoption of social media as teaching resources in higher education. In addition, the chapter focuses on privacy concerns that social media can cause to faculty when they are used for social networking. A trans-cultural study was carried out which involved three Spanish universities, a Colombian university, and an American university. A focus group was organized with PhD students to brainstorm the topic. Afterwards, 94 undergraduate students completed a survey and 18 lecturers participated in a written interview. Results indicate that social media are widely adopted in the university and are perceived as valuable resources for teaching. However, privacy concerns can easily emerge among students and faculty when these applications are used for this purpose. Concerns may appear when social media are used for social networking as well. The text also offers some guidelines to overcome them.


Author(s):  
Judee Richardson

In the United States, institutions of higher education have been under mounting pressure to improve. In part, this is due to increasingly high-priced academies producing graduates who possess skill levels that are out of sync with employer and societal needs. Added to this is the fact that the United States spends more than other countries to educate its citizens but continues to perform more poorly on comparative measures of literacy, math, reading, and science. To stay globally competitive, changes need to be made. Competency-based education has re-emerged and taken root as one way in which to educate students more effectively. By focusing on demonstrable learning outcomes and discipline-specific performance, competency-based education is changing the fabric of higher education. Based upon experiences garnered from the University of Wisconsin Flexible Option, this chapter presents some of the challenges encountered when developing this type of program within a longstanding traditional educational system.


2022 ◽  
pp. 205-222
Author(s):  
María A. Pérez-Juárez ◽  
Javier M. Aguiar-Pérez ◽  
Javier Del-Pozo-Velázquez ◽  
Miguel Alonso-Felipe ◽  
Saúl Rozada-Raneros ◽  
...  

The presence of technology on college campuses has increased rapidly in recent years. Students come to the classroom with a variety of technological devices including smart phones, tablets, or laptops and use them during academic activity. For this reason, there are many researchers who, in recent times, have been interested in the problems derived from digital distraction in higher education. In many cases, researchers have conducted studies and surveys to obtain first-hand information from the protagonists, that is, from university professors and students. Despite the efforts, there are many questions that still remain unanswered. The authors are aware of the enormous challenge that the use of technology poses in the university classrooms and want to delve into the causes and consequences of student digital distraction and the strategies that can be used by instructors to curb student digital distraction without deteriorating student-instructor rapport in the context of higher education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1679-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seumas Miller

AbstractThere is a need to provide an appropriate normative conception of the modern university: a conception which identifies its unifying purposes and values and, thereby, gives direction to institutional role occupants, governments, public policymakers and other would-be institutional designers. Such a conception could admit differences between modern universities; differences, for example, between so-called universities of technology and other universities. Indeed, it is preferable to frame the issue at the level of higher education or university systems rather than at the level of individual universities. According to the teleological normative theory of social institutions, social institutions are organizations or systems of organizations that provide collective goods by means of joint activity; universities are no exception. So what are the fundamental collective good(s) that universities of technology, or the larger systems of which they are a part, ought to be providing and how are they travelling in this regard? This is the question addressed in this paper.


Author(s):  
Юлия Масалова ◽  
Yuliya Masalova

The purpose of the work is to evaluate the potential of a high school teacher; the subject of study is employment potential and competitiveness of the university faculty member; research methods include analysis of statistical data and online-survey. The article presents the results of the research potential of the university teaching staff in the conditions of ongoing reforms in higher education and in connection with changing requirements to higher education institutions forfaculty members. It was determined that faculty members demonstrate high loyalty and commitment, but average engagement. It was revealed that the institution creates proper conditions for development and self-realization, creativity and communication. It was confirmed that university professors have a high scientific and innovative potential and willingness to conduct research. The conclusion is that the employment potential of university staff is not used to the full. It was determined that the majority of the teaching staff appreciates personal competitiveness. And only one out of five is aware of the need to develop their personal competitiveness in line with the new requirements. The results of the study may be useful for university governance within the management of human resources quality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-365
Author(s):  
Magda Francisca Cejas Martínez ◽  
Derling Jose Mendoza Velazco ◽  
Mercedes Navarro Cejas ◽  
José Lenin Rogel Villacis ◽  
Yanet Marisol Ortega Freire

Introduction. In order to encourage more flexible working environments and establish generators of sustainable development for participating countries through an educated society, various international organisations that intervene in the quality dimension within the framework of a systemic approach to Higher Education, including the World Bank, have made multiple efforts to establish various recognitions, certifications and credits pertaining to competency-based education. Materials and Methods. The research, featuring a study of theoretical-interpretative design, was based around the qualitative paradigm. Information was obtained by means of semi-structured interviews with 14 lecturers from different universities in the city of Quito in Ecuador. The data obtained were triangulated with a review of the literature carried out by the researchers. Results. The informants considered cognitive competencies to be the most relevant within the context of teacher formation. Research, planning and organisation skills were not established in importance due to university professionalisation. Additionally, the need to establish curricular changes in the Ecuadorian university pedagogy was confirmed. Discussion and Conclusion. After contrasting the opinions of university professors and formation theories, a theoretical reflection is presented in which the importance of unifying professional formation and investigative competencies is emphasised. This unification allows the quality of higher education centred around the teacher as the main actor to be increased.


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