Re-Engineering Assessment Practices in Scottish Higher Education
Faculty of Law, Arts & Social Sciences: Department of Modern Languages
The Department of Modern Languages at SU re-engineered the first year French 1A class to reduce student failure rates and make further efficiency savings. The course redesign has focused on enhancing the formative feedback opportunities for students and staff with the inclusion of diagnostic testing, regular online homework activities and the use of electronic voting systems. The programme of activities are designed to build student’s language skills, provide flexibility, and develop autonomous learning skills. In the redesigned class failure rates have reduced from 24% to 4.6%. The results of the completed redesign can be found by following the links listed below:
At a Glance
| Department: | Department of Modern Languages |
| Class/Course: | French 1A |
| Students: | 200 |
| Technology: | Online homework and tests supported by VLE, electronic voting system (EVS) |
| Assessment Activities: | Diagnostic tests of student knowledge at start of year to inform teaching. Formative feedback from regular online testing and EVS classroom use. |
| Efficiencies: | Effective delivery of course made possible despite significant cuts in funding and staffing.
Tutorials reduced by 50% and replaced with online tasks. Listening classes reduced from 360 to 160 hours. Saving of 200 staff hours. |
| Learning Gains: | Failure rate in final exam reduced from 24% to 4.6% compared with 2005/06 diet.
"Having almost immediate feedback on marks was very useful as I was aware at every point as to how well I was coping" Student comment |
Principles in Practice
- Principles in Practice (June 2007)
Summary Report
- Summary Report (June 2007)
Staff Involved
- Michele Dickson [michele.dickson 'at' strath.ac.uk]