Technology Options
for Assessment Purposes and
Quality Graduate Outcomes
African Virtual University (AVU),
online and e-learning students
Sheila Howell RMIT University
RMIT University
School of Computer Science and IT
Vietnam (2 campuses)
China
Malaysia
Singapore
Indonesia
Africa
AVU (9 learning centres)
Ethiopia/Kenya
Tanzania/Ghana
Rwanda/Namibia
Melbourne
Australia
Principles Underpinning Programs
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Educate and train students for the very dynamic and rapidly
changing science and technology market
Educate and train students to become lifelong learners by
providing a sound base in mathematics, basic sciences,
humanities and social sciences
Motivate students to become innovators who can respond
positively to the challenges and opportunities presented by new
ideas and technologies
Lay a strong foundation for, and instil confidence in, students
who may want to pursue further postgraduate studies.
Quality Outcomes for program delivery
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Provide cyclical opportunities to communicate,
reflect, discuss, improve, feedback and re-evaluate
in all areas
Provide quality assurance for 2 different groups –
the lone students – and groups of students.
For group mode (Africa) appoint facilitator from
Partner Institution to liaise with each course
manager from Australia. Essential to maintain staff
contact through visits/audits etc.
For individual student provide general student
support processes as well as instructional support.
Delivery Model for Off-Shore Programs (online and mixed mode)
Level 1
Student Support
Hard copy learner guide/
workbook
Learner guide/workbook provides direction and
options. Student makes choices about learning styles
and access levels to courseware.
Level 2
Student Support
CDs/DVDs
For use in a local learning
centre. Access to all
courseware, support
materials + local discussion
forums.
Courseware or support materials
provided on CDs or DVDs. Enables
student to study on any standalone
computer.
Level 3
Computer Laboratory support
Local Area Network
Supports both learning centres and individual
students. Access to all Courseware and
International Discussion forums
Level 4
Global Internet Access
Technology Options – Mixed Mode
The course materials are provided in mixed mode:
 in paper form via books, an instructor’s guide and a learner’s
guide;
 in electronic form on a server available at the facilitator’s
institution;
 in electronic form on a server available worldwide (currently in
New York);
 in electronic form via videos, CDs and lecture recordings using
Camtasia.
The AVU project was set up for multi-channel delivery over
internet, intranet, servers, satellite TV, broadcast, video,
CDROM and paper
Technology Options
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Podcasts, RSS feeds, Camtasia, screencasts
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Blogs, wikis, newsgroups, bulletin boards,
usenets
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Knowledge
Resources
Communication
Meaningfulness
Revision or version control software
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Authenticity
Manageability
Online Learning and Assessments
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Concerns about the authenticity of student
work
Inability of academic staff to ensure that the
student and / or facilitator has correctly
interpreted their instruction / concepts etc.
Difficulty of conducting exams in a secure
environment that ensures academic integrity
Feelings of isolation
Approach for New Online
Postgraduate Program
List all graduate capabilities – suggestions for
how to assess each one
Which courses have which graduate
capabilities ?
Map courses to capabilities to assessment
procedures
Online Programs
Individual mode
– Workstation with access to Internet
– Provided with all necessary software
– Exams in centres authorised by RMIT
– All materials marked at RMIT
– Capstone project at end
Group mode
– Face-to-face classes with Facilitator at learning centre
– Facilitator marks all assessments
– Mixed-mode delivery – resources online as well
– Exams at learning centre
– Moderation of some assessments by RMIT
– Regular on-site moderation/audit visits.
Graduate Capabilities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Knowledge and skills pertinent to the discipline
area
Critical, creative and analytical skills
Communication in a variety of modes and contexts
Life-long learning
Work independently and collaboratively
Social and ethical responsibility
Self-reliance and leadership
Graduate Capability 3:
Communication in a variety of modes
and contexts
Assessment:
Requires use of blogs, “voice” and/or video
software such as Camtasia, discussion forum,
newsgroup contributions.
Map Courses to Capabilities
to Assessment Procedures
Course
Graduate Capability
Comment
Programming
Principles
(1A and 1B)
programming in Java
Knowledge
Analysis
Problem solving
Independent working
All first year courses are foundation courses
– Familiarise students with the environment,
effective use of courseware, and work
independently to achieve the course goals.
Software provided for Java and the Java
development environment.
Weblearn quizzes and tests.
Regular submission of assignment work.
Assignments + mid-semester + final exams
Recommendations for Assignments
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Assignments always presented for marking in stages - staggered
submissions.
Extensive use of quizzes and tests administered and marked online –
generated individually.
Students to use blogs as a record of their work and as a requirement
for assessment
Students to use version control software across a number of courses:
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familiarity with the concept of version control which is an essential part of
the modern IT workplace and
good records of student work for assessment and authentication purposes.
Students to use some communications software to engage with staff
and other students in a face-to-face or voice-over mode.
Use of a capstone project to bring together all components of the
program in a closely supervised short term study period with extensive
interaction with our staff.
Recommendations for Exams
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Individual study students attend an exam
centre wherever possible, supervised by
authorised staff.
Group study environments have regular
audits and moderation performed by staff
from our university
if neither of the above two options are
possible, an independent invigilator is
organised.
Recommendations for Implementation
of Postgraduate Online Program
Extensive student support in the form of the provision
of suitable software and resources,
Student advisers for regular contact (this will also
maximise chances for students to be authentic),
have a limited number of students being looked after
by any one adviser and
Provision of a regular newsletter or blog for students
which encourages students to contribute.