Enhancing the formative assessment environment through the use of mobile technologies

Enhancing the formative assessment environment through the use of mobile technologies

Anita Backhouse, Ian Wilson & Daniel MackleyYork St John University

Context

• The investigation was part of an institution wide initiative to explore the potential benefits of using iPads for group work and collaborative learning activities

• An 8 month practitioner research study;

• A collaboration between tutors, second year undergraduate students and the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Adviser;

Investigation

• Could the use of mobile technology applications enhance the peer-review and feedback process?

• Could a practitioner-research approach enhance the students’ pedagogical awareness and engagement with peer-review and feedback?

Data was collected and analysed from observation and discussion notes and questionnaires across the period of the study.

Organisation

• 140 student participants in 5 teaching groups

• Each teaching group was split into 5 sub-groups of 6 students

• 20 iPads (with applications)

The Formative Assessment Model

^ĞĐŽŶĚǇĞĂƌƵŶĚĞƌŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ

ĂƐƐĞƐƐĞĚ ŐƌŽƵƉ ĂĐƚŝǀ ŝƚŝĞƐ

Science-themed school assembly

30 min science lesson

Science-themed classroom display

^ŵĂůůŐƌŽƵƉĨĞĞĚďĂĐŬ͕,ƌĞĨůĞĐƚŝŽŶĂŶĚƐĞůĨ -

ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚǁ ŝƚŚƚƵƚŽƌ

Peer assessment and feedback using

Notability


eClicker or Socrative












Notability





An image is taken of the display and imported into Notability ready to be annotated.

After annotation the file is saved as a pdf and exported to Dropbox.










Notability














Notability





Key Findings

• Students’ level of engagement with peer review and feedback increased significantly when using the iPads (100% engagement when iPads were used);

• The students became critical reflectors of the technology and of the peer assessment process;

• The students valued the impact that giving feedback had on their own assessment attitudes and practice.

Impact

• 87% of students made use of peer assessment and feedback with children during their second year placement

• Several other disciplines in the ITE programme are now engaging with iPad to enhance their own learning, teaching and assessment

• Students are now using the iPads and other technology in other modules as a result of being involved in the investigation.

Future plans

• Students to create their own success criteria for the assembly and lesson activities

• Students are now asked to incorporate a QR code to that links to the rationale for display

• Students to provide support to their peers on the use of the technology and applications.

Questions?

References and acknowledgementsBig Nerd Ranch (2012) eClicker Presenter (version 1.0.13) [Mobile application software] Available from: http://itunes.apple.com [Accessed 30 September 2012]

Big Nerd Ranch (2012) eClicker Audience (Version 1.0.4) [Mobile application software] Available from: http://itunes.apple.com [Accessed 30 September 2012]

Gingerlabs (2012) Notability (Version 4.42) [Mobile application software] Available from: http://itunes.apple.com [Accessed 30 September 2012]

Socrative (2013) Socrative Teacher [Mobile application software] Available from http://www.socrative.com [Accessed 15 March 2013]

Socrative (2013) Socrative Student [Mobile application software] Available from http://www.socrative.com [Accessed 15 March 2013]

Vu, T. T. and Dall'Alba, G. (2007) Students’ experience of peer assessment in a professional course. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 32 (5), pp. 541-556.

Many thanks to Abi Sowerby, Naomi Richardson, Louise Connelly, Beth Millar, Mollie Benefer, Bryony Cunningham, Rachel Rawcliffe and Nicole King for allowing us to show their work.

http://itunes.apple.com/



http://www.socrative.com/

http://www.socrative.com/

Contact Details

Daniel MackleyTechnology Enhanced Learning AdvisorYork St John [email protected] @danielmackley

http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/ipadproject

mailto:[email protected]

http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/ipadproject