PRAISE for Michael
Synopsis
Michael De Raadt, Lecturer in Computer Science, uses electronic submission and peer review with his students.
Description
Michael uses a system called PRAISE for electronic submission and peer review. A student submits his/her own assignment and is then allocated the work of two other students to review against a checklist, according to set criteria. This is moderated by markers and used in assessment. This system is designed to get students thinking more about the processes involved in the work, and it also allows staff to spend less time marking and more time helping the students with work.
Target audience
This system is used in Foundation Programming (which has about 300 students, 200 of whom are off-campus), Foundation Computing (which has about 1000 students annually with about 500 externally), and experimentally in a few other courses.
Learning goals and objectives
Because the courses are so big and require several assessments, the marking load had previously meant that students were not getting the attention they needed. Scrapping paper assignments and using e-submission has made the submission process faster, and the peer review aspect means that students are getting a more reflective and cognitive learning experience. In programming particularly, which is a creative process, it's interesting and valuable for the students to see how other people have approached the same project.
Who did/does what?
Michael is a trailblazer who designed and implemented the single-step submission and review technique, which takes students straight into reviewing once they have submitted their own work, and is administered automatically by a web based system. It is moderated by lecturers and markers.
Results
The goals were to improve learning outcomes and reduce marking, and Michael feels that these goals were achieved.
One way in which the system was modified was to add a counter that ensures every student has their work moderated once in every two or three assignments. Previously, the better students who were receiving good reviews didn't feel that they had much contact with moderators. The revised system also allows lecturers to keep better track of students who are falling behind.
Problems and advice for others
Initially students were a bit suspicious of the peer-review process being used in assessment, but once the learning goals were explained to them, and a video was compiled to explain how to use the submission & review system, students began to view it more positively as a valuable learning experience. Many have expressed the idea that they would like to see it used more widely.
General recommendations
Michael would like to see this system used as a Moodle plug-in (in an ‘off the shelf' state) so that it is available for any staff member to use in their own teaching.
He would also like to see improved channels of communication about the ways in which technology is being used.
Comments
Michael says that if USQ wants to excel at the provision of technology enhanced learning, it needs to be prepared to invest and take risks.
Who was the target audience
This system is used in Foundation Programming (which has about 300 students, 200 of whom are off-campus), Foundation Computing (which has about 1000 students annually with about 500 externally), and experimentally in a few other courses.