Using Blogs to enhance feedback, learning and assessmentDr Douglas ChalmersBlended learning co-ordinatorGlasgow School for Business and Society

An example of a current blog Media Ethics

4th year undergraduate Journalism and Media students

Compulsory for journalism (NCTJ accredited)

Optional for Media

Applies ethical approaches to decisions in the media

Success with student involvement:

Success with student involvement:Class involvement 50% + for each scenario

Recursive involvement once different ethical frameworks introduced

An extension of the classroom

A living record of progress through the syllabus

Using the Blogs for formative assessmentSet class task, and encourage maximum involvement in blog comments

Set aside one teaching slot to critique the comments

Comments are anonymised for this process

Prepare comments/ annotations beforehand using colour coding

Example:The journalistic case of Nick Martin Clarke (see word document)

From a summative point of view: How to mark?For best use, need interesting (!) topicWithout real involvement a dimension is missingTo become a real part of the module, the blogs need to be livelyDead blogs only attract zombies Encourage involvement through:Positive marking (i.e. rule out negative marking)Have period of formative assessment firstUse an approach marking the best 3, or 5 perhaps contributions?

Setting assessment criteriaOne approach Marking through banding:Undergraduate:E = 35% - 39%D = 40 49%C = 50 59%B = 60 69%A = 70%+Use (+ & -) ie B = 65; B+ = 67; B++ = 69 etc

Setting Assessment Criteria 2Possible approaches:Average out best 5 or best 3 contributionsAsk students to limit themselves to say 300 words (please)Or:2 questions posed for summative assessment. Students requested to post contribution of max 500 on one, and a critique of a colleagues posting in 500 words. (have used this for postgrad)

Approach applied to other ProgrammesInternational Events Management (PG)

Multimedia journalism (PG)

AdvantagesComplementary to face to face learningGauge of Student participationTool for peer to peer collaborationCreates good revision aid for students

Issues to be aware ofNeeds proper integration (no simple add-on)Need to provide model of best-use to studentsNeeds monitoring to ensure full involvementNot universally applicable to all modules everywhere