ASCILITE session

Mathew Hillier
Monash University
@mathewhillier

Andrew Fluck
University of Tasmania
@AndrewFluck

Michael Cowling
Central Queensland University
@macowling

Kenneth Howah
Central Queensland University

Matt Bower
Macquarie University
@mattgbower

Scott Grant
Monash University
@scottgrantoz

Amy Hubbell
University of Queensland

Catch this session

Tuesday 3.45pm – 4.45pm
Stream 4
Room L209

Abstract

“This panel style session will explore the stories of academics and institution support staff that have trailed the OLT e-Exam system in 2017. The ‘Transforming Exams Across Australia’ project has evolved to include 10 Australian universities, a national accreditation agency and several international institutions forming collaborative connections.

Stories from project member institutions will provide insights into a particular element of practice from differing institutional contexts. Each speaker will contribute one or two perspectives to form an overall rich picture of running BYOD based e-exams in Australian universities. Areas to be covered will include, academic, logistical, policy, governance, technology support and student experiences perspectives.

The e-Exam system uses BYO laptops running from customised version of Linux loaded onto bootable USB sticks that non-invasively ‘locks down’ the device for the duration of the exam. The system allows for a consistent, full desktop operating environment regardless of the laptop being used. A range of software tools can be run including an office suite, graphics tools, spreadsheets, multimedia and on-board web applications (Moodle) without the requirement for a network connection. The project is undergoing trials in 2017 where word documents are used as the question and response environment. Such exams can be run as paper-equivalent giving students a choice of handwriting or typing. Taking it a step further, high definition multimedia, resource files, and third party software tools takes an exam into the post-paper paradigm where all students use a computer to construct complex responses in the exam room. Read more at transformingexams.com”

About the authors

Mathew Hillier

Mathew is one of two co-leaders of the ASCILITE SIG for ‘e-Assessment’ and in this capacity is a co-host of the Transforming Assessment webinar series along with Prof Geoffrey Crisp. He specialises in e-assessment and e-exams and teaches into the academic staff development program at Monash University leading the ‘technology and space’ theme. He has previously taught into Business, Information systems, Engineering and Arts programs at several universities in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Mathew is currently the leader of the ‘Transforming Exams’ project developing a toolset for authentic, computerised, high-stakes assessment (e-Exams). The project covers 10 university partners and is funded by a half-million dollar Australian government grant. He is also leading the development of a multi-language computerised exam platform for use in national professional translator accreditation. More about Mathew at http://ta.vu/mathewhillier

Andrew Fluck

Dr. Fluck trained as a teacher in Bristol, England. He has taught science, mathematics and computing in Nigeria, England and Australia. He is a past secretary of the Australian Council for Computers in Education (ACCE), and is now a senior lecturer in information technology education at the University of Tasmania. His numerous publications reflect his research interests in the transformational potential of computers in education. He was a co-author of the government report ‘Making Better Connections’ and the book ‘Seven steps to ICT integration’. His funded research investigates the use of computers to teach integral calculus and quantum mechanics in primary schools; and eExaminations, where students take their own computers into the exam hall. He is the chair of Working Group 3.3 (research into educational applications of information technologies) for IFIP/UNESCO. Andrew is also an avid longbow archer and continental archery judge. See more details at http://Andrew.Fluck.id.au

Michael Cowling

Michael is an educational technology academic with a keen interest in technology / computer science education, educational technology and technology ubiquity in the digital age. He is currently a partner in an OLT Innovation and Development grant and is the recipient of an Australian Government Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning. He founded The CREATE Lab at CQUniversity, focused on collaborative research & engagement around technology and education, and is co-founder of The Mixed Reality Research Lab, in collaboration with Bond University, focusing on mixed reality technology research in education. Dr Cowling’s work focuses on how technology can be weaved into the pedagogy of a classroom, rather than bolted on to the side. Living by the mantra “pedagogy before technology”, he helps teachers and academics to innovate with technology, leveraging it as a tool to improve the overall education process.

Kenneth Howah

Ken is a lecturer in technology, teaching Information Systems and security management, Information Technologies and networking, E-commerce, and Ethics and Social Issues. Prior to starting at CQUniversity in 2002 he worked in the ICT industry in roles including Network Administration, IT procurement and IT customer service. Ken has published on user decision making with respect to the use of software from risky sources. He is currently a partner researcher on the national e-exams project with an interest in use of e-exams within the ICT program and development of technical support for computerised exams across complex multi campus institutions. Ken’s online profile https://handbook.cqu.edu.au/profiles/view/535

Matt Bower

Associate Professor Bower specialises in the innovative use of technology for learning purposes. He is particularly interested in how contemporary technologies such as augmented reality, Web 2.0 tools, virtual worlds, social networking, virtual reality and so on can be most effectively used to support cognitive development and collaborative learning. Matt has over seventy peer reviewed publications in the area of technology-enhanced learning design, teacher education, and computing education. He has led several funded grant projects and participated in many other research initiatives (total funding exceeds $1M). He has delivered numerous keynote and invited speaker presentations on topics such as augmented reality, blended-synchronous learning and learning design. Matt’s Macquarie University profile is at http://www.educ.mq.edu.au/our_staff/associate_professor_matt_bower/

Scott Grant

Scott has taught Chinese language and culture at tertiary level for more than 20 years. At Monash University he coordinates and teaches units in Introductory Chinese language and Chinese Online Media. He is the creator of the Monash Chinese Island virtual language learning simulation in Second Life that has been part of the formal beginner level curriculum at Monash since 2008. Scott has also conducted collaborative research and jointly published a number of papers on educational uses of 3D multi-user virtual environments covering topics including self-efficacy, cognitive skills, second language acquisition and foreign language anxiety. In 2013/14, Scott was the Project Team Leader of the OLT funded Virtually Enhanced Languages (VEL) project which aims to share the experience and resources accumulated from implementing task-based language and culture learning on Chinese Island over a period of 10 years with other tertiary language educators. Scott profile is at http://profiles.arts.monash.edu.au/scott-grant/

Amy Hubbell

Amy teaches all levels of French language, French literature, translation and business French at University of Queensland. She is author of ‘Remembering French Algeria: Pieds-Noirs, Identity and Exile’ (2015) and numerous articles and chapters on contemporary French literature and art. Though her area of research is the traumatic memories of exile and war in French Algeria, she is also author of a textbook ‘A la recherche d’un emploi: Business French in a Communicative Context’ (2017). Amy recently engaged with the use of computerised exams and has been trialing the technology in French to English translation courses. Amy’s online profile is at https://languages-cultures.uq.edu.au/profile/1145/amy-hubbell