Nicola Neale

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Diagnostic Assessment Pilot Project 2007
Nicola Neale Rebecca Rochon
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• Aim
• Trial the use of BlackBoard as a means to
  implement a computer-based diagnostic assessment
• Justification
• Diagnostic assessment is a crucial means of
  identifying student needs
• Current testing procedures paper-based
• Different skills for computer-based learning?
  (Bernard et al 2004)

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• Overview
• Literature search
• Reviewed current practice
• Designed a questionnaire
• Sought ethical approval
• Collaborated with WebTeam
• Scheduled sessions in Induction Week

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• Implementation
• Questionnaire 42 questions
• General IT and Internet skills
• Motivation
• Attitude towards online learning
• Electronic communication and collaboration
• Social software

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• Pilot procedures
• Induction Week BlackBoard session
• Regularly scheduled technical orientation
• Login to computers, then login to BlackBoard

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• Participants
• 53 of 200 students (26.5of students)

• Technical set-up/procedures
• Four organisations set up
• 40 guest accounts within each organisation
• Temporary random password

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• Findings
• Confusion with organisations names
• Problems with system passwords
• Problems with BlackBoard passwords
• Technical problems with BlackBoard
• Technical problems in one of the training rooms
• Some students found questionnaire too long

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Conclusions

• Positive
• BlackBoard is the VLE of the University
• No staff training needed for BlackBoard
• Reflects an essential delivery mode of teaching
  and learning within the University
• Integration of support

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• Negative
• Technical issues related to use prior to
  registration
• Creation of paper copies
• Limitations of system Excel results
• Reliance on WebTeam staff
• Technical problems
• Presence of a save button next to each question
  on the online questionnaire

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• Next Steps
• Revise questionnaire
• Liaise with Computer Support Services
• Review and collate results
• Devise strategy for provision of individual
  support

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I have worked as part of a group online for
coursework in the past
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Do you use any of the following? Select all that
are applicable.
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Would you be interested in using these for your
course work? For example, watching an
instructional video on YouTube or sharing
information via Facebook or other social network.