Abstract: The Open Essay Optimiser (OEO) is a tuned and enhanced successor of an earlier online tool called Open Essayist. It was tuned using many anonymised scripts from students and enhanced with the input of expert programmers and designers. OEO examines the argument coherence within a text: how ideas are set out, discussed and then brought together in a conclusion. It provides different ways to present this coherence to students, whilst allowing them to edit their text within the tool and see the impact of these changes. There are other features including the listing and highlighting key words and phrases, and key sentences. Also, a review of the references used and the possibility to suggest others. This presentation will also include details of the initial trial and outcomes so far.
Speaker bio: Chris is a senior lecturer in the Institute of Educational Technology, staff tutor to the Online and Distance Education curriculum and Module Team Chair of H817 Openness and innovation in elearning. His primary research interest is in understanding the longitudinal student experience through the Pathways Project and how this can be improve through interventions including the Open Essay Optimiser