1. REAP Update 5 th April 06 Caledonian Business School, Glasgow Caledonian University

2. Background  Ongoing uncertainty and change in CBS  Some staff affected by moves to new subject groupings  Some modules affected by review of core module provision within CBS programmes  Ensuring ‘buy-in’ from large module teams can be problematic

3. Overview of structure  Gillian Roberts & Linda Creanor providing overall co-ordination and support  5 e-champions providing direct support to participants in their own subject groupings  1 e-champion role still to be filled due to changes in staffing  Regular monthly meetings established with e-champions and Project Manager

4. E-Champion role It’s been agreed that e-champions will –  Participate in GCU learning & teaching showcase event in May to help disseminate info about REAP across GCU  Participate in Strathclyde ‘brown bag’ events and forthcoming Learning Enhancement Network (LEN) event  Develop two workshops aimed at their subject groups  Commit to writing-up pilots and other contributing material  Help with evaluation

5. Implementation update  All initial assessment pilots well underway  Most teething problems with technology have been sorted out  Capturing evidence from staff and students has begun  Impact of changes in assessment are encouraging reflection on next steps

6. Level 1: Managerial Finance To reduce ‘tail’ of weak students through continuous assessment and regular feedback  10 low-stake weekly MCQ tests implemented (10%)  More than 1 attempt allowed, but first mark recorded by students  Slow uptake initially, now much higher engagement  Linked to weekly seminars  Module progression already good, but aim to improve grades overall  Evaluation planned (monitor exam results, questionnaire & focus groups)

7. Level 1: Marketing Fundamentals To reduce marking and admin time in summative assessment  First large scale online summative assessment completed (Jan 06)  Close collaboration with IT and Exams office  435 concurrent students – 259 completed online  First evaluation completed (Qs, focus groups, staff time)  Technical issues being addressed  Amended process for May exams  Future plans include Saltire Centre

8. Level 1: Economics, Markets & Enterprise To extend opportunities for formative assessment; to develop students abilities to assess and construct questions based on learning outcomes  Some lectures recorded for podcasting via BlackBoard  Pilot trial of EVS system in lectures  Liaising with ‘Organisations and their Environment’ module on wider use of EVS next year  Involving students in the construction of ‘model’ questions based on module learning outcomes and integrating theory with data gathering

9. Level 1: Organisations & their Environment To provide more timely and useful feedback to students & reduce staff assessment workload  Reduction from 2 coursework assessments (wk 5 & 9) to 1 (wk 8)  New style marking criteria developed with clearer grading plus focus on constructive feedback  May consider electronic feedback software  Pilot of EVS in a level 4 module underway, considering introducing it to Level 1 next year.  This module will have new leader next year  Evaluation plans being drawn up

10. Level 1: Understanding Management To enhance the consistency and quality of formative feedback & reduce staff assessment workload  Electronic feedback software is being used  Students have consented to receive feedback electronically directly to their chosen email address  Staff are also trialling this in other modules (Level 2, Perspectives on People at Work; level 3, Strategic Management) which allows for comparisons and exchange of experiences  Each has a different logic for adaptation and implementation  Evaluation plans in hand (Qs, focus groups, staff diaries)

11. Level 2: Perspectives on People at work To reduce staff marking workload, enable quicker & more consistent formative feedback  Database of frequently used essay feedback comments developed  Pilot use of electronic feedback software  E-tivities & discussion boards are being used to enhance formative feedback & encourage peer support  Evaluation underway (focus groups planned)  Plans to scale up this process next year

12. Level 2: Consumer Buyer Behaviour To improve progression at first exam diet and reduce staff workload  Weekly online tests established  Considerable technical difficulties with publisher’s resources – now resolved  10 of 12 tests assessed (25%)  Time restrictions on test availability  Improvement in average weekly scores & more engagement with course text book noted  Electronic submission of coursework for quicker turnaround  Staff workload logged, focus groups planned, test marks & exam results monitored

13. Level 3: Strategic Management To improve the usefulness, quality, consistency & timeliness of feedback from a large teaching team with the aid of EFS, in the process achieving efficiency gains  Detailed baseline data on previous assessment strategy collected  Module ‘position statement’ circulated to REAP team  EFS training sessions for 6 members of module team  Module leaders have tailored EFS to module requirements  Module team now piloting module specific EFS  Evaluation underway (time logged, interviews, focus groups)

14. Level 3: Business Research Methods To enhance feedback to students and reduce staff workload  Shift from final exam (50%) to phased submission of student portfolios comprising 4 topics (also 50%)  Will move to e-portfolio format  Pilot of electronic feedback software also underway  Pilot of Excel-based software for automated marking & feedback on quantitative analysis  Detailed logging of tutor time underway  Blackboard discussion boards for student reflection planned

15. Postgraduate Modules to ensure consistency and quality of formative feedback in the following MBA & PgD Human Resource Management modules: Management Integration (F2F) Management Integration (online) Management Consultancy Managing Activities  All have a management report as a major formative assessment (no exam)  EFS is being used for feedback in Sem B  Evaluation plans similar to those for Understanding Management module

16. Dissemination  Several REAP participants will present at GCU’s internal Learning & Teaching event (May)  Information has been disseminated internally via the ELearning@GCU publication and online news update  Abstract submitted to BB Europe conference (May)