Relating to assessment

1. Include a discussion board dedicated to assessment discussion

From the start of the module, having a specific area where learners can post queries about assessments is helpful. Some learners may feel shy about asking questions in this space and will email you. In this case, you might want to reassure learners that their questions are worthwhile but ask them to post in the discussion forum. This also ensures that everyone sees the response. It also encourages a feeling of ‘all in it together’, a key part of SoB.

Example: Margaret asked learners from the previous cohort to create a list of hints and tips for students taking her module. These were added to an area on her VLE and linked to the online discussions area where students could post queries and thoughts about the assessment. Rather than answering the queries individually, once a week, Margaret added a short audio clip discussing the postings.