Looking back to take things forward

Reflections on a language portfolio

Ruth Hatcher, Laurence Millard & David TualLanguage Unit , Engineering Department

Presentation overview

• Context + problem

• WHAT AND HOW

• FEEDBACK from staff and students

• WHAT NEXT?

• Conclusion

Introduction

• The Language Unit & the Language Programme for Engineers

• Our students

• Previous assessment methods (homework and participation)

Our portfolio

• 6 pieces of homework to be submitted either electronically (Google Drive or email) or on paper

• Corrections (following a colour code) and reflections

• Autonomous learning log

Students’ feedback

Students’ feedback

Students’ feedback on using Google Drive

Students’ feedback on using Google Drive

Comments from students who would prefer an alternative means of handing in their work

• “Easier to write German than type it, not good interface”

• “By hand – actually get a feel of writing before the exams – easier + no autocorrect”

• “Prefer to hand write, by completing it online I spent too much time editing it”

• “Submitting written homework is more useful as you can make side notes and easier to refer back”

• “Typed and printed to the teacher, because the feedback in the margin can be useful”

Feedback

PROS

• Easy-to-access repository

• Immediate feedback

• Empowers the students

CONS

• Time consuming

(Time spent on marking homework: average 10.9 minutes, double checking: 5.9, using G drive: 13.5 and 6.7 respectively)

• Requires training of teachers and students

• Allows student to copy and paste from external resources

• More impersonal

What next?

•Add a variety of tasks (covering all 4 skills)

• Moodle vs. Google

• Change the attitude of students and teachers

• Carrying on with monitoring control quality and student satisfaction

Conclusion

What we have learnt:

•The need to explain and train staff & students to use Google Drive (or any other virtual platform)

•The value of continuous assessment

•Set the right expectations

Arising questions to explore further:

•How to best use contact and non-contact time?

Readings

• Cadd, M. (2012). The Electronic Portfolio as Assessment Tool and More: The Drake University Model. IALLT Journal of Language Learning Technologies 42(1), 96-126. http://www.iallt.org/iallt_journal/the_electronic_portfolio_as_assessment_tool_and_more_the_drake_university_model

• Cavanaugh, A.J. & Song, L. (2014). Audio Feedback versus Written Feedback: Instructors and Students’ Perspectives. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching 10(1), 122-138. http://jolt.merlot.org/vol10no1/cavanaugh_0314.pdf

• Edwards, D. (2014). Pedagogy First – Technology… Learning and Innovation [weblog]. Retrieved July 2014 from http://dedwards.me/2014/02/15/pedagogy-first-technology/