We’ve launched a new resource to support Deakin University teaching staff designing and delivering digital assessment. With the rapid transition to fully-online learning in Trimester 1, 2020 due to COVID-19 we were required to make significant changes to Deakin University’s assessment practices. This new resource showcases some of the innovative work staff have done this year and reflects on the long-term vision for digital assessment at Deakin.

Instigated by Prof Helen Partridge (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Teaching and Learning), a working group headed by Darci Taylor (Senior Lecturer, CloudFirst Redesign) created the resource in collaboration with staff from multiple divisions and faculties across the University.

Combining pedagogy and technical information

The resource combines the pedagogy and technical information of how teaching staff might implement different types of digital assessments, including guidance for the rationale around their decision making and information about support teams within the faculties.

Staff can also learn more about the student experience of each type of digital assessment and read stories from colleagues about what worked well in Trimester 1, what challenges were faced, and what they might change moving forward. As we continue to deliver digital assessments for Trimester 2 and beyond, we will continue to update the resources with new information and use cases to support our teaching staff.

Types of digital assessment

Here’s some examples of the different types of digital assessment that can be found in the resource.

Online practical assessment

Staff can learn how students can perform a laboratory-style practical activity for an assessor live in real-time via a digital platform. They can learn how Dr Alecia Bellgrove used live Zoom sessions with slideshows of specimens and quizzes delivered through CloudDeakin to replicate lab-based practical assessment for Marine Biology.

Team based learning

Team based learning (TBL) is a highly structured teaching strategy designed to accelerate the acquisition of discipline specific knowledge and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and critical thinking (Currey et al. 2020). Staff can learn how Prof Alex Gentle and Dr Simon Backhouse transitioned their campus-based TBL for Optometry to a fully online model using BB Collaborate with break-out rooms for individual team based discussions and InteDashboard for delivery of assessment material.

Time-restricted online assessment

Time-restricted online assessments covers a broad range of assessments. It includes written assessments or tasks that are often delivered online using the CloudDeakin ‘dropbox’ and usually have a traditional due date or strict deadline. The resource delves into how Dr Dilal Saundage’s Business Analytics students used industry specific software like WordPress and Tableau to create a data visualization artefact that they could share with future employers.​​​​​​​

To read more about these examples, or to explore the many other types of digital assessment types included in the resource, Deakin staff can access designing and delivering digital assessment on DeakinHub.

Learning through digital collaboration in the 21st century

As our world continues to change, the complexities of how we stay connected and engaged is continually present. This is highlighted in the education space and the collaboration conceptual framework was developed to underpin the ways in which we are connecting and learning online. It explores the different types of interaction, how we can learn through those interactions and the different types of collaboration that can be present. The digital collaboration conceptual framework explores the different types of interaction that occurs in this space.

Collaboration use case library

The conceptual framework captures four types of collaboration in teaching and learning: collaborative, cooperative, connected, and social. There are many use cases that reflect the different types of collaboration across the University. There is not one piece of software that enables every type of collaboration, and the collaboration use case library outlines the different teaching and learning contexts and how this was achieved in different units. To review, go to the Collaboration Use Case Library.

Microsoft Teams use case library

Microsoft Teams is an industry-based software that facilitates collaboration through chat, discussion, team meetings, artefact generation, and project management. Want to know more about the different use cases at Deakin and how it is being used in teaching and learning? To review, go to the Microsoft Teams Use Case Library.

Collaboration software training resources

It can be challenging to know what different software is available and how these can be used in the teaching and learning context. We have created a set of training resources with the pedagogical approaches and how to get started with different software in your teaching. The resources have been organised and presented in short videos for you to access at your leisure. To review the training resources available, explore the Training Resources SharePoint page.

Join the Demystifying Digital Community of Practice

A Yammer Community of Practice has been developed to share tips, advice and positive experiences of using the digital tools that are available at Deakin. It could be a feature in Zoom that helped to create a brilliant workshop experience, an App in MS Teams that enhances collaboration, an option in H5P that has created a brilliant online interactive experience, or perhaps a digital wellbeing tip that has had a great impact on you – the list is endless! The goal; cross pollination of digital knowledge, boosting Deakin’s digital capability, and assisting everyone to connect and share more broadly with each other. Join the Demystifying Digital Community of Practice now.

Explore our new Teaching and Learning Induction Portal

We’re excited to announce that the Deakin Learning Futures Teaching and Learning Induction Portal is now accessible on DeakinHub.

This resource was developed collaboratively through a joint project with Human Resources and faculty teaching and learning leaders to complement the other layers of induction at Deakin that welcome new members to our community. Structured information is offered to assist new academic and professional staff to understand their roles in teaching and learning in the Deakin context. The resource is integrated with the new Deakin Teaching Capability Framework.

The staff journey begins with a basics page, a quick reference for finding what you need to teach at Deakin, which will be especially useful for those in new casual and short-term roles. The rest of the portal offers timely and targeted access to a range of curated resources and supports. Information on key topics is offered, like tips on teaching a first class, assessment, growing your career, student engagement and retention, academic integrity, the CloudFirst approach and more. New staff can access information on gettting started at Deakin, and they are also invited to return and see what’s next in their development. The Teaching and Learning Induction Portal also includes the recently launched Deakin Student Support Services Map for staff, an interactive, comprehensive resource to consult for referral of students to support, services and information.

Information is tailored for what people need to know. For example, some Unit Chairs and Course Directors teach, and others do not. Teaching and learning leaders, who are also active members of a teaching team, can access materials and resources suited to both aspects of their roles. There is specific information for other teaching team members and those in learning and teaching support roles. This includes demonstrators, learning designers, educational technologists, academic developers, Work Integrated Learning and Student Experience teams, careers staff, librarians, student support services teams and many more.

The focus of the project will now move to road-testing and refining the portal over time and to developing related synchronous supports. Please share your feedback with us using the email facility on the site! Other future directions include developing a third level of the resource where some ‘going beyond’ scenarios and case studies can be used to support the development of excellent practice in the key topic areas. We will again collaborate closely with our faculty partners on that work.

Click here to visit the Deakin Learning Futures Teaching and Learning Induction Portal.