REAP Update
5th April 06
Caledonian Business School,
Glasgow Caledonian University
Background
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Ongoing uncertainty and change in CBS
Some staff affected by moves to new
subject groupings
Some modules affected by review of core
module provision within CBS programmes
Ensuring ‘buy-in’ from large module teams
can be problematic
Overview of structure
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Gillian Roberts & Linda Creanor providing
overall co-ordination and support
5 e-champions providing direct support to
participants in their own subject groupings
1 e-champion role still to be filled due to
changes in staffing
Regular monthly meetings established with
e-champions and Project Manager
E-Champion role
It’s been agreed that e-champions will –
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Participate in GCU learning & teaching showcase
event in May to help disseminate info about REAP
across GCU
Participate in Strathclyde ‘brown bag’ events and
forthcoming Learning Enhancement Network
(LEN) event
Develop two workshops aimed at their subject
groups
Commit to writing-up pilots and other contributing
material
Help with evaluation
Implementation update
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All initial assessment pilots well underway
Most teething problems with technology
have been sorted out
Capturing evidence from staff and students
has begun
Impact of changes in assessment are
encouraging reflection on next steps
Level 1: Managerial Finance
To reduce ‘tail’ of weak students through continuous
assessment and regular feedback
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10 low-stake weekly MCQ tests implemented (10%)
More than 1 attempt allowed, but first mark
recorded by students
Slow uptake initially, now much higher engagement
Linked to weekly seminars
Module progression already good, but aim to
improve grades overall
Evaluation planned (monitor exam results,
questionnaire & focus groups)
Level 1: Marketing Fundamentals
To reduce marking and admin time in summative
assessment
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First large scale online summative assessment
completed (Jan 06)
Close collaboration with IT and Exams office
435 concurrent students – 259 completed online
First evaluation completed (Qs, focus groups, staff
time)
Technical issues being addressed
Amended process for May exams
Future plans include Saltire Centre
Level 1: Economics, Markets &
Enterprise
To extend opportunities for formative assessment; to
develop students abilities to assess and construct
questions based on learning outcomes
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Some lectures recorded for podcasting via
BlackBoard
Pilot trial of EVS system in lectures
Liaising with ‘Organisations and their Environment’
module on wider use of EVS next year
Involving students in the construction of ‘model’
questions based on module learning
outcomes and integrating theory with
data gathering
Level 1: Organisations & their
Environment
To provide more timely and useful feedback to students
& reduce staff assessment workload
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Reduction from 2 coursework assessments (wk 5 &
9) to 1 (wk 8)
New style marking criteria developed with clearer
grading plus focus on constructive feedback
May consider electronic feedback software
Pilot of EVS in a level 4 module underway,
considering introducing it to Level 1 next year.
This module will have new leader next year
Evaluation plans being drawn up
Level 1: Understanding Management
To enhance the consistency and quality of formative
feedback & reduce staff assessment workload
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Electronic feedback software is being used
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Students have consented to receive feedback
electronically directly to their chosen email address
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Staff are also trialling this in other modules (Level 2,
Perspectives on People at Work; level 3, Strategic
Management) which allows for comparisons and
exchange of experiences
Each has a different logic for adaptation and
implementation
Evaluation plans in hand
(Qs, focus groups, staff diaries)
Level 2: Perspectives on People at
work
To reduce staff marking workload, enable quicker &
more consistent formative feedback
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Database of frequently used essay feedback
comments developed
Pilot use of electronic feedback software
E-tivities & discussion boards are being used to
enhance formative feedback & encourage peer
support
Evaluation underway (focus groups planned)
Plans to scale up this process
next year
Level 2: Consumer Buyer Behaviour
To improve progression at first exam diet and reduce
staff workload
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Weekly online tests established
Considerable technical difficulties with publisher’s
resources – now resolved
10 of 12 tests assessed (25%)
Time restrictions on test availability
Improvement in average weekly scores & more
engagement with course text book noted
Electronic submission of coursework for quicker
turnaround
Staff workload logged, focus groups
planned, test marks & exam results
monitored
Level 3: Strategic Management
To improve the usefulness, quality, consistency & timeliness
of feedback from a large teaching team with the aid of
EFS, in the process achieving efficiency gains
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Detailed baseline data on previous assessment
strategy collected
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Module ‘position statement’ circulated to REAP team
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EFS training sessions for 6 members of module team
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Module leaders have tailored EFS to module
requirements
Module team now piloting module specific EFS
Evaluation underway (time logged,
interviews, focus groups)
Level 3: Business Research Methods
To enhance feedback to students and reduce staff
workload
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Shift from final exam (50%) to phased submission
of student portfolios comprising 4 topics (also 50%)
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Will move to e-portfolio format
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Pilot of electronic feedback software also underway
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Pilot of Excel-based software for automated marking
& feedback on quantitative analysis
Detailed logging of tutor time underway
Blackboard discussion boards for
student reflection planned
Postgraduate Modules
to ensure consistency and quality of formative
feedback in the following MBA & PgD Human
Resource Management modules:
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Management Integration (F2F)
Management Integration (online)
Management Consultancy
Managing Activities
All have a management report as a major formative
assessment (no exam)
EFS is being used for feedback in Sem B
Evaluation plans similar to those for
Understanding Management module
Dissemination
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Several REAP participants will present at
GCU’s internal Learning & Teaching event
(May)
Information has been disseminated
internally via the ELearning@GCU
publication and online news update
Abstract submitted to BB Europe
conference (May)