Abstract:

This paper will consider an institutional perspective of the role-out of an Electronic Voting System (EVS) across a number of schools, with an overarching view that it will enhance the assessment experience for both students and academics. Our initial findings, that the use of handsets benefitted both students and academics, are not dissimilar to that of Draper & Brown (2004). The paper will also demonstrate successes and challenges of such a large scale project.

Three drivers define the need for this project.
• The critical role assessment and feedback plays in supporting learning, developing students’ self-regulation and ultimately enhancing student progression and success.
• Students nationally and locally identifying assessment and feedback as the least satisfactory aspect of their university experience.
• Assessment and feedback often have time pressures and technology enhanced solutions can be both educationally effective and resource efficient.

Across the institution, eleven schools have volunteered to be involved in the project and over 7000 EVS handsets have been issued to students. This institution-wide approach in using technology to increase and enhance assessment and feedback practice has been carried out at three levels; individual student, module and programme level.

The presentation aims to share
• How the schools were supported across the institution
• How EVS links to good principles of assessment
• Some smart things to do with EVS
• Some of the challenges of technology

The next phase will be to introduce a ‘Student Dashboard’ that will collect performance data from a variety of sources and create automated and regular reports of student engagement, with our Managed Learning Environment (MLE).
Ultimately, the project is focused on improving student support; student learning and student engagement in their learning experience.

References:
• Draper S & Brown M (2004) Increasing interactivity in lectures using an electronic voting system. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 20. 81-94.
Please note, this project has recently recieved funding from the JISC.

Keywords:

EVS, PRS, assessment, technology.