Factors affecting the adoption of e-assessment in School of Engineering by Z.G.Baleni Continuous Professional Developm

1. Factors affecting the adoption of e-assessment in School of Engineering byZ.G.BaleniContinuous Professional Development UnitCLTD, WSU

2. Introduction • E assessment part of WSU e learning strategy • Objective 3 & 4 in particular • Capacitate academic staff on e learning ( Professional Development) • Student participation in e learning

3. Cont…. • Much effort goes into developing the technology for an efficient and easy to use electronic assessment system, BUT • Successful implementation depends as much, or even more, on understanding campus culture and using appropriate change strategies

4. What’s e assessment? • E-assessment - electronic assessment i.e. processes involving the implementation of Information ICT for the recording, transmission, presentation and processing of assessment material • Types – Quizzes, discussion forums, group-work, e portfolio etc. • Used for formative & summative assessment

5. Adoption of e assessment system • Two theories used to explore adoption of an e-assessment system, • Rogers’(2003) Diffusion of Innovations and • Eckel and Kezar’s (2003) Mobile Model for Transformational Change

6. Roger’s Theory • 5attributes explain 49–87% of the variance in the rate of adoption of innovations: • relative advantage, • compatibility, • trialability, • observabilityand • complexity.

7. Cont…. • Relative advantage - degree to which an innovation is viewed as better than the idea it supersedes. • Compatibility - degree to which the innovation is seen ‘as consistent with the existing values, past experiences and needs of potential adopters’

8. Cont.. • Complexity- degree to which an innovation is viewed as difficult to understand and use • Trialability -degree to which an innovation can be experimented with on a limited basis. • Observability - degree to which results of an innovation can be seen by potential adopters

9. Eckel and Kezar’s Mobile Model for Transformational Change 5 core strategies that explain change across the institutions: • senior administrative support (show value, provide resources and add new administrative structures); • collaborative leadership; • flexible vision (clear and desirable picture of the future that does not foreclose opportunities);

10. Cont…. • staff development ; and • visible actions.

11. PURPOSE • This study was conducted to identify the factors that would enhance adoption of e-assessment systems and foster sustainment on university campuses.

12. Approach • Population - 2009 SoE trained leaders • Questionnaire e mailed • Out of 35, 12 responded • SPSS used to analyse data

13. FINDINGS

14. Relative advantage

15. Has e-assessment affected your students’ performance?

16. Cont…

17. Cont……

18. Cont…

19. Compatibility

20. Trialability

21. Observability

22. Complexity

25. Staff Development

26. Conclusion • CLTD on track with its e learning strategy • Staff development impacting on staff • E assessment - Very useful for Formative assessment • Bull & Danson (2004) say it is not a panacea for rising student numbers and marking overload though if used appropriately, it can clearly relieve some of these pressures. • If used formatively to provide detailed and timely feedback, it can support and enhance student learning in ways which are not possible with paper-based assessments.

27. Recommendations • Integrate e - assessment into WSU assessment policies and practices

28. THANK YOU !!