Group Project
This page describes an implementation of an assessment method by a lecturer or group of lecturers. The content of the page is the result of an interview conducted through the RAFT project in DIT in the 2013-14 Academic Year.
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Lecturer and Contact Details
Programme and year on which assessment was offered
- BA Fine Art, Years 1-3
- BA Visual Communications, Years 1-3
- BA Interior Design and Furniture, Years 1-3
- BA Visual and Critical Studies, Years 1-3
Description
This is an elective module, ‘Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?’ This module takes place in the virtual environment of Second Life. The metaphor of the environment is important with each student creating their own avatar. There is no technical teaching – students must log on to Second Life and learn how to use it between classes. The individual assessment is on the keeping of a blog and equates to 50% of the mark. Group Project is worth the other 50%. The students must post once a week to a blog, which is viewable to the public, they spend the first five weeks writing on a topic and the remaining five weeks working on a project, which is also recorded on their blog. They receive a lecture on academic writing and this method must be used. Assessment is directly related to the learning outcomes. The students are assessed in weeks four, eight and at the end of the module. They receive feedback in weeks five and seven.
The final assessment takes place in week 10 and is a public presentation of the group in Second Life, they gather the audience, inviting four people into the virtual presentation space. This final presentation is run like ‘The X-factor’ with judges invited to offer immediate feedback to the students presenting.The judging panel may consist of people who have been involved in giving guest lectures for this module.
Why did you use this Assessment?
The assessment grew out of the learning outcomes. The assessment covers all the learning outcomes and is a low burden for both students and staff, yet enables learning to take place.
Why did you change to this form of assessment?
This assessment method has evolved. The group project was originally a small part and assessment. Assessment was overly complicated, so was distilled down to two assessment points.
How do you give feedback to students?
Tried quite a few different methods, including Facebook (the structure was discontinued), LinkedIn was too unwieldly. Second Life offers instant messaging and a recorded message can be left on the Wiki.The students are assessed in weeks four, eight and at the end of the module. Weeks five and seven are feedback classes. This is formative feedback as the students are given a chance to make up their marks in the final presentation.
What have you found are the advantages of using this form of assessment?
- Direct
- Specific to student
- Pressure off staff
- Pressure off students
What have you found are the dis-advantages of using this form of assessment?
- Some students don’t partake in the group project.
- Some don’t write up the blog.
If another lecturer was using this assessment method would you have any tips for them?
Preparation, consistency, this has evolved to be best practice with continuous development. The notes on the evolution are available on the wiki maintained by the lectures delivering the module.
Do you have any feedback from students about this assessment?
Good and straightforward feedback from the mature students taking the module. A lot of students from outside the DIT take the module, including students from The USA, Britain, Europe plus quite a few academics. Formal feedback via the Q6 is also positive.
Additional Resources
See access to blog: http://virtualenvironmentsmodule.com
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