This article reports on selected aspects of a larger study on the use of electronic tools in the context of the management and marking of assignments. The study comprised a literature review, interviews and a review of e-tools. The article briefly summarises the findings from the literature on what comprises quality in assignment marking. The…

The present article examined the validity of public web-based teaching evaluations by comparing the ratings on RateMyProfessors.com for 126 professors at Lander University to the institutionally administered student evaluations of teaching and actual average assigned GPAs for these same professors. Easiness website ratings were significantly…

At the University of the Free State (UFS) blended learning (a combination of face-to-face and online modes of delivery) is regarded as a relatively new practice with possibilities of addressing many of the context-specific teaching and learning problems at the institution. During the planning phase for the third cycle of an action inquiry project…

The Association Supporting Computer Users in Education (ASCUE) is a group of people interested in small college computing issues. It is a blend of people from all over the country who use computers in their teaching, academic support, and administrative support functions. ASCUE has a strong tradition of bringing its members together to pool their…

This digest describes the three most prominent approaches to essay scoring by computer: (1) Project Essay Grade (PEG), introduced by E. Page in 1966; (2) Intelligent Essay Assessor (IEA), introduced for essay grading in 1997 by T. Landauer and P. Foltz; and (3) e-rater, used by the Educational Testing Service and developed by J. Burstein. PEG…

Discusses the annoyances and minor aches accompanying the tedious work of marking students' schoolwork and the application of the computer to providing students with good feedback. Notes that using the computer to mark students' papers is more enjoyable and less time consuming, provides the teacher with an easily accessible record of each…

Developers of the Intelligent Essay Assessor claim that it saves time in evaluating college students' essays and improves the assessment. This and the growing number of other automated grading programs use the same technologies that make computer-based tutoring possible. Many academics remain skeptical of grading technologies, citing the…

Describes the use of batch-oriented computing as the basis for reintroducing homework problems as a teaching tool in beginning chemistry instruction. Stems from and expands upon a system used in a university setting that produces, delivers, grades, and keeps records for homework problems. (DDR)

Describes the use of computers for grading assignments in beginning and intermediate reporting and writing programs at Texas A&M University. Indicates that students store assignments on a computer network, where the instructor can access them to grade them. Describes techniques for making electronic corrections clear and provides sample…

Focuses on improving grading efficiency and compatibility by using computer-aided evaluation that is especially useful for grading performance assignments in basic communication courses. (PA)

Presents research that validates and refines a computerized system for grading placement exams. Compares computerized ratings to holistic scores, grades earned in courses, and other measures. Calls for additional research on larger populations and greater numbers of textual traits. (HB)

Instructors teaching any college statistics course hold to a standard practice of assigning homework, grading it, and returning it to students with some form of feedback. However, with a course as difficult, intimidating, or as intense as statistics, students often need help from the instructor during non-office hours. Large class sizes often…

Special problems in assessing how college students use technology and the products they create with it are discussed using the examples of listserv discussions (student participation, quality and coherence of discussion, selection of postings) and a computer-based data analysis in a graduate statistics course. Rubrics for evaluating each are…

Described is a method of evaluating student chemistry laboratory reports using electronic reporting from locally developed macros. Examples of the input template, the grade report template, and input and grading programs are given. Results of a survey of students and teachers evaluating the program are reported. (MDH)

The effects of enrollment increases on student achievement in an English polytechnic were evaluated by examining student grades over time and across disciplines in which different grading practices were used. (MSE)