How to use simple open-source technologies to enhance e-learning in Nanyang Technological University

13. SPARK- Additional Information SPARK is designed to improve students' learning from assessed group tasks and improve both students' and lecturers' confidence in and satisfaction with the process of assigning group marks. Specific ways in which SPARK can contribute to the curriculum include: * adjust team / group assessment marks to fairly reflect individual contributions * leverage development of graduate attributes. eg, communication, collaboration, reflection * support criteria based assessment * allow collection of student ratings in a secure, confidential, flexible online environment * enable self and peer assessment in any subject area * provide summative or formative assessment and feedback * implement sound educational research for group-based learning and assessment * allow efficient, accurate and subtle data analysis in a highly resource constrained environment

14. SPARK- Context of implementation & design * Piloted in multiple discipline areas at UTS (eg. Business, Design, Engineering, Law) * Used by academics ranging from innovators to novices in educational technology * Currently used by other academics in Australia and overseas (eg. UK and Malaysia) * Adapted in professional education (e.g. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia) * Class sizes ranging from 24 - 1100 students * Implemented in on-campus and fully-online environments * Applied to group assessment tasks worth 0% to 60% * Subjects in undergraduate and postgraduate courses * Six years of design and development and evaluation * Significant in-kind support plus $16,000 CUTSD grant 1999 * Released in 2002

15. SPARK- Requirements for Success 1. Students already learning online 2. Assessment criteria relevant and customised to learning task 3. Students appreciate reasons for group assessed task 4. Initial criteria developed with students and continuously evaluated 5. SPARK and criteria accessible from beginning of group task 6. All staff involved in subject support benefits of group assessed projects/task 7. All staff involved in subject appreciate SPARK process 8. Staff supported technically 9. Supportive academic environment 10. Reliable server access and helpline 11. Strategies for supporting student group learning in place 12. Assessment aligned with course objectives 13. Adequate time for students to reflect and enter ratings