About this blog
I have been using e-assessment in my work for about 10 years and currently chair two Open University modules (S151 Maths for Science and S154 Science starts here) which use interactive computer-marked assignments. When the Open University’s Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) came along in 2005 I was lucky to have teaching fellowships from both COLMSCT (the Centre for Open Learning of Mathematics, Science, Computing and Technology) and piCETL (the Physics Innovations Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning), primarily for work in e-assessment. My first COLMSCT project investigated the use of short-answer free-text questions and my second was a more general investigation into the ways in which students use e-assessment.
The CETLs have ended now. They have achieved a great deal but, certainly in the area of e-assessment, there is so much more to do. I have lots still to write up, lots more work to do and ideas buzzing around in my head. This blog is an attempt to disseminate new findings and share some of my ideas. Many of my ideas are not original, and I would like to thank anyone else whose ideas I am poaching (accidentally or otherwise).
I should emphasise that I am not a technical whizz kid. I use computers when they help me to do what I want to do, whether that is driving a car, writing a blog or helping my students to learn. But sometimes I just want to throw my computer out the window! My lack of technical expertise means that I rely heavily on others to support me in my work. In this regard I would particularly like to thank Tom Mitchell of Intelligent Assessment Technologies, Spencer Harben (consultant), my husband Richard Jordan and (from the OU) Tim Hunt, Greg Black, Fiona Thomson and especially Phil Butcher, who led the COLMSCT iCMA initiative and continues as e-assessment adviser.
For more information on some of the topics that I blog about, see my list of publications at Open Research Online.