eSubmission and eFeedback – is it becoming mainstream?

Dr Barbara Newland, Brighton

Lindsey Martin, Edge Hill

Alice Bird, Liverpool John Moores

In UK Higher Education

◦eSubmission is becoming more mainstream

◦There is a shift towards eFeedback.

Definitions and hypothesis

eSubmission online submission of an assignment

eMarking marking online ie not paper

eFeedback producing online feedback which could be text, audio etc but not paper

Methodology◦Target group – members of UK Heads of

eLearning Forum representing over 125 UK HEIs

◦Method – anonymous online surveys carried out in 2011 and 2012.

Results◦ 38 responses in 2011 (30% response rate)◦ 44 responses in 2012 (35% response rate)

Methodology and results

Institution-wide policy

Yes No Don't know0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

eSubmissioneFeedback with eMarkingeFeedback without eMarking

Drilling down (2012 only)

Changing Practice

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01020304050607080

20112012

Percentage of responses*

* Institution or department-wide

Recurring use of 'patchy’ in relation to levels of adoption◦ Typically, experimental/individual/local initiatives

led by enthusiasts But interest in moving to wider adoption

◦ 12/38 planning to increase adoption substantially

Perceptions of adoption (2011)

Evidence of eSubmission becoming more mainstream◦ 18/44 respondents indicated increased use of eSubmission, in the

previous 12 months◦ only one reference to 'patchy‘ adoption

replaced by terms such as 'moving towards', 'rolling out‘

Some evidence of move to eMarking and eFeedback◦ Frequent reference to ‘pilots’ and projects to evaluate/test new

ways of working

7/44 working on improving technology (not evident in 2011) better integration improved robustness anonymous submission feedback tool

Perceptions of adoption (2012)

Anxieties about eSubmission, eMarking and eFeedback process◦ 31/34 identified one or more anxiety

Need for ‘Balance of progress Vs preserving academic choice’◦ Adoption being driven mainly by senior

management, learning technologists, students◦ Fewer examples of academic staff driving

adoption

No Gain without Pain

Comparison of 2011 and 2012 survey demonstrate◦ Emerging trend towards mainstreaming

eSubmission and greater use of eFeedback

But

◦ Need for balanced approach when rolling out institutionally to overcome barriers

References - www.helf.ac.uk

Conclusion