Investigating online tests practices of university staff using data from a learning management system

While research on online tests in higher education is steadily growing, there is little evidence in the literature of the use of learning management systems (LMS), such as Blackboard™, as rich sources of data on online tests practices. This paper reports on an investigation that used data from Blackboard™ LMS to gain insight into the purpose for and practice of online tests at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Business School in Australia. Focussing on curriculum and pedagogical practices, the paper identifies indications of good practice as well as potential issues related to curriculum mapping, including possible misalignment between learning outcomes and online tests. It also affirms the versatility of using data from LMSs in the study of e-assessment in general and online tests in particular.</jats:p

The Future of Online Teaching and Learning and an Invitation to Debate

This chapter opens by re-visiting the social and economic context of UK higher education, a context dominated by globalisation, new liberalism and competition, but also shaped by the opportunities associated with digital learning. It revisits theories of pedagogy and issues arising from the chapters focusing particularly on: online forums in teaching, developing a learning community through digital technology and analysing how such technology shapes the identity of teachers. Finally, it argues that despite constraints, challenges and work intensification, technologies are an important resource within Higher Education, increasing access and broadening reach whilst also contributing to the formal and informal education of citizens and positively contributing to the creation of critical publics - publics with the capacity to challenge established social norms and centres of power

Introduction to Chapters: Creativity and Critique in Online Teaching and Learning: Innovations in Online Pedagogy

This chapter introduces the contents of the book and describes what each case study contributes to knowledge in the field. It explains what we mean by the terms creativity and critique and in so doing highlights the challenging context in which online teaching and learning is taking place