Enhancing Learning with Online Tools

This book surveys the literature in the areas of§assessment, feedback and computer-assisted learning,§and identifies best practice. It then tells the story§of the development and implementation of OASIS§(Online Assessment System with Integrated Study), a§Web-based tool that delivers individualized practice§and assessment tasks, marks student responses,§supplies prompt feedback, and logs student activity.§Although OASIS was created initially to manage§increasing workloads, it also appeared to enhance§student learning. This book also outlines and§validates the action-research paradigm, and then§describes the action research itself which was§undertaken to confirm this enhancement. An analysis§of the extensive data collected by the software§itself, course surveys, written responses from§present and past students, and recorded interviews§with instructors and students, showed that students§and instructors judged OASIS to improve student§skills, understanding and achievement. This book will§be useful to professionals working in the areas of§assessment, feedback and computer-assisted learning.§Intending or practising action researchers will also§find the account of the research invaluable.