Abstract:

Under the European Higher Education Framework, the competences assessment and the differentiated assessment have become fundamental in order to increase the overall education quality and the proper development of skills in our university students. On previous works we have been focused on Degree or Master Final Thesis activity and then, main descriptors for each modality (Technical Project, Technical Report or Research Work) were developed and an Evaluation Assessment tool was implemented.

A significant part of the competences assessment is the Presentation which involves several non-oral communication evaluable items such as:
eye-contact, body language or voice level and volume. These aspects are evaluated by a mastered panel. However, we have found several dificulties to evaluate such items when the student performs his/her presentation through an online system (videoconference). This option is widely used by foreign students or students who are enjoying a year abroad to improve their studies and language skills. Moreover, videoconferences are commonly used in many companies at all levels. Thus, it results mandatory to develop an assessment alternative which allows instructors to properly evaluate presentation skills of the students who choose or have to use the videoconference alternative.

In this paper, the authors first analyse this situation in deep and, then, carry out a detailed study about the converging and separating criteria between the on-site and the on-line modalities. Thus, main descriptors for each modality are extracted and, finally, an assessment scale is proposed. This assessment tool intends to guarantee a differentiated assessment and help to identify, in an objective manner, cases of abnormal excellence of a Degree or Master Final Thesis regardless the modality.

Although the methodology has been developed focusing on Engineering Degree and Master studies from the Spanish curricula, and the University of León has been selected as case study, obtained results can be easily extended to other academic fields and educational plans.

Keywords:

Differentiated Assessment, On-line education, Degree/Master Final Thesis, Excellence identification.