Technologies to enhance feedback

In the online and blended environment, there are many different learning technology tools that can be used to enhance the feedback and marking process for students and teachers. Maximising the functions of the Learning Management System (ie: Moodle) online feedback processes can include creation, submission, grading and feedback mechanisms all in the one place. It is important to understand that using the wrong online tool for feedback process can impact on the efficiency and quality of the processes, just as choosing the right online tool can enhance the learning and teaching processes. So the underlying principle is choosing the right online tool for the feedback job!

Learning technologies supported by Federation University

Listed below are the most common learning technology tools used at Federation University.  It is important to understand that using the wrong online tool for your feedback or marking process can impact on the efficiency and quality of both student and/or teacher processes. All these technologies are listed, with support guides within the Staff Learning Technologies Hub.

  • Assignment – The assignment activity is a function in MOODLE that enables a teacher to communicate tasks, collect work and provide grades and feedback.
  • Quiz – The Quiz function is an activity in MOODLE that can be used to generate and assess learning in an automated way. In a basic way it can test student knowledge and in a more sophisticated manner it is a very powerful tool to drive motivation and learning.
  • Forum – A forum is a ‘place’ on a MOODLE page where lecturers and students can ‘talk’ via typing, audio or video and share images. Forums are generally considered to be a form of asynchronous communication as there is a time lag between when someone makes a posts and another user can read it. This however allows time for students to formulate their ideas or response to others.
  • Turnitin – Turnitin is an external software program linked directly to MOODLE. Turnitin can compare students assignments to internet content, journal databases and a global database of submitted student assignments and gives back a report with a finding of similarities found. This tool also provides opportunities to provide feedback directly to the document, both written and audio.
  • MS Teams – Federation University provides Microsoft Teams as the primary tool for delivering online synchronous teaching. Teams allows you to talk and present in real time with either an individual or group of students, but also record the session for reference later. Please remember, all copyright teaching materials, readings, and formal assessments should remain in Moodle.
  • ePortfolios – An ePortfolio is an electronically stored collection of student experiences, achievements and artefacts and/or reflections on learning.  At Federation University, we use the MAHARA ePortfolio program.
  • Video – Video is the creation of visual or audiovisual media that in the context of online and blended learning can be used for the delivery on content, engagement, instruction and assessment.  This medium can be used within  ALL of the tools explored earlier - uploaded as quiz question, a link on an ePortfolio page, created for a Wiki or Workshop activity and submitted as on an Assignment link.

Resources, strategies or assistance

Websites

Strategies

  • Contact your Director, Learning and Teaching or Institute Learning Designer to organise a group workshop for your teaching peers to upskill with the use of learning technologies of your choice to support your feedback and marking practices.

Assistance

  • Contact your Institute Learning Designer or Technology Liaison Advisor. to discuss the best learning technology to support your feedback and marking needs.