e-learning course scoops international award

The innovative work of the University’s Learning Enhancement Unit has been acknowledged with the award of a top prize at a major conference in Baltimore, USA.

The conference included the inaugural international Blackboard Bionic Course Contest and attracted entrants from across the world. Five winners were chosen, each of whom represent "technologically and pedagogically, the very best of elearning."

The teaching team behind the University's 'Assessment Online' staff development course were the recipients of the winners' certificate and $5,000 award. 'Assessment Online' uses the Blackboard Online Learning System to deliver a comprehensive staff education programme that enables academic staff to learn about creating and presenting online assessments for students.

"We are delighted to have received this award," said David Walker, Module Leader on the Assessment Online course. "Being selected as one of the winners by a panel of experts and fellow professionals from within the field of elearning makes the award all the more special."

"Winning such a prestigious competition is an important achievement for the University," said Dr Richard Parsons, Director of elearning. "It recognises the efforts of everyone involved in delivering the course and supporting the systems. It highlights the considerable strengths that Dundee has established in the area of online learning. We are grateful to the Faculty of Life Sciences, whose input into the development and delivery of the course has proven invaluable."

Accredited and delivered fully via the web, the award winning 'Assessment Online' runs each semester for a period of five weeks and is open to academic staff both internally and externally. Participants explore the techniques for assessing students online including how to design effective online questions.

Members of the course are also provided with instruction on how to produce an electronic portfolio of work, assess discussion board activities and construct and deploy electronic assessments. The course is delivered with the commercial tools of Blackboard and Questionmark Perception, and uses a number of innovative approaches that include self and peer assessment. For more information contact David Walker: d.j.walker@dundee.ac.uk telephone (34) 4819.