DevalSimWeb Project

Gregorio Rodríguez Gómez María Soledad Ibarra Sáiz

Jaione Cubero Ibáñez

Universidad de Cádiz (Spain)

Presenting author: Jaione Cubero Ibáñez

Skills development through participatory assessment and simulation using web tools

ALFA III (2011)-10

The DevalSimWeb project addresses some of the main problems of Latin American universities: -Drop out of studies or student desertions during the first or second year, especially by students from the more disadvantaged social classes - post-graduate insertion into the labour market.

Assessment models that are used in universities tends to reproduce the norms and habits of one social group in particular, limiting the possibilities for students of other social origins (Thomas, 2002).

The project in action – active learning through student participation in assessment process through strategies such as self, peer or co-assessment. These strategies promote autonomous learning, empowerment and self-regulation through critical reflection of their own performance. (Boud & associates (2010), Carless, Joughin y Mok (2006), Falchikov (2005), Ibarra, Rodríguez y Gómez (2012), López Pastor (2009) and Rodríguez, Ibarra y Gómez (2011)

Conceptual framework

This project offers an alternative approach to college learning assessment based on the use and incorporation of innovative technologies (web-based

assessment, simulations).

Target groups

From an institutional perspective:

a) the universities participating in the project

b) organizations and collaborating entities of the project.

From the perspective of participants:

a) Students

b) teachers of the participating universities

c) senior academics who train university teachers

d) staff responsible for academic guidance and advice to college students

What we’re aiming to achieve: • Reduce the dropout rate

• Increasing the rate of employment

• Raise the level of employability

• Increase the skill levels of students

• Promote the improvement of computer tools and web-based assessment

• Encourage innovation in universities

• Encourage professional development of university teachers

• Strengthen collaboration between universities and companies

Outcomes/results: 1. A catalogue of work-related and professional skills. To write this catalogue a study was developed in order to analyse the importance given to different soft skills by stakeholders (companies, teachers and students). The results showed a need to promote five competences: • Team work • Communication • Ethics • Analysis and critical thinking • Decision making

2. On-line training programs for the development of skills. Three training programs have been designed:

EVAPES Program - An on-line training program for the development of e-learning oriented e-assessment in university teaching staff. APREVAL Program - An on-line training program for the development of evaluation skills in first year university students EDECOM Program - An on-line training program which is aimed at final year university students. These training programs focus on the importance of assessment in the teaching and learning process.

3. EvalCOMIX web service (http://evalcomix.uca.es)

This web service helps teachers to design assessment tools and its use by the students.

4. DIPeval web service (http://dipeval.uca.es).

It is a software that enhances the design of assessment procedures and widens the technical pedagogical options.

5. DINNO – A tool for innovation in assessment (http://dinno.evalfor.net).

Outcomes/results: Two serious games

• A day with EVA (http://eva.devalsimweb.eu/) • University Welfare

These games allow students to practice their assessment skills through daily situations. They combine entertainment and learning.

Outcomes/results:

Another major product is the creation of the Euro-Latin American Institute for the Development of Evaluation of Learning.

It will be a forum for the management of knowledge concerning the advances and challenges for the diffusion of good practice in evaluation in higher education.

http://devalsimweb.eu

EE ALforALfor EVALfor Research Group

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

EE ALforALfor

EVALfor Research Group

PARTICIPANTS

Gregorio Rodríguez Gómez. Universidad de Cádiz (Spain) gregorio.rodríguez@uca.es María Soledad Ibarra Sáiz. Universidad de Cádiz (Spain) marisol.ibarra@uca.es Jaione Cubero Ibáñez. Universidad de Cádiz (Spain) jaione.cubero@uca.es

e-mail: evalfor@uca.es Página Web: http://www.uca.es/evalfor