The
Assessment
Diaries
Glamorgan case study (2)
(Students’
perspective)
at
This case study is the result of the Evaluation of Assessment Diaries and
GradeMark project at Glamorgan under the JISC assessment and feedback
programme.1 There are 4 case studies in total, with two focusing on the use of
Assessment Diaries and two focusing on the use of GradeMark at the University of
Glamorgan. Videos of academic staff sharing their experiences of the assessment
diaries are also available.
Case study title
Assessment
Diaries
and
assessment/time
management
Institution name
University of Glamorgan
Background
At the University, students are provided with an
assessment diary via their VLE (Blackboard)
showing their assessment tasks for the term for
each module and a clear overview of the
deadlines and feedback dates.
How does the assessment
diary help?
Assessment information for each course was
previously given to students in a more piecemeal
modular fashion. By providing an overview of all
assessment tasks in one easily accessible online
space, students can use the diary to help
manage their assessment workload and time.
In addition, reminders are sent to students
before assessment deadlines and also provide
links to the support available.
The diaries provide students with a clear view of
specific feedback dates. Before the diaries,
feedback dates were not routinely available and
1
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearning/assessmentandfeedback.aspx
were more likely to be vague time frames rather
than specific dates.
The overall assessment diet has become more
transparent and clear for students.
The advantage [Describe the
benefits of the addition or
amendment of an element of
e-learning, as experienced by
learners, practitioners and/or
the institution as a whole]
Students are generally positive about the idea of
assessment diaries and can see the benefit of
them. Below are some student comments:
“I quite like how it is laid out in the assessment
diaries, it's always quite clear and the boxes
where you have got the time and the tick its
quite nice to see you have got something ticked
off and see what else is due in the next week. "
“I like the feedback dates and the emails to say
the feedback has been released.”
"it does keep you in check on what you have
got coming up."
Key points for effective
practice [Briefly identify the
most important points in the
case study for other
practitioners – these may
include risks as well as
benefits]
From student feedback two key points emerged:

The frequency of reminders for students
needs to be carefully thought out, as
reminders being sent too early are often
ignored by students.

If tutors for any reason could not meet
published feedback dates, tutors need to
inform students in order to prevent the
diaries turning into a form with
inaccurate information.
Additional information [Use
this optional section to add
related materials or content
e.g. a lesson plan or a set of
data, or to supply your email
address]
More information about the project can be found
here