Sounds Good: Quicker, better assessment using audio feedback

1
Sounds Good Quicker, better assessment using
audio feedback

• Bob Rotheram
• b.rotheram_at_leedsmet.ac.uk
• www.soundsgood.org.uk

2
Who, what, when, where, why

• 15 teachers, 460 students
• various subjects, levels, numbers
• Coursework feedback (x2)
• formative summative
• Jan-July
• Leeds Met, JISC-funded
• Can everyone benefit?
• students richer feedback?
• staff save time?

3
How

• Digital audio feedback
• MP3 recorders
• Audacity software
• WIMBA voice tools
• Audio files via
• Email
• VLE
• mobile devices

4
Project modules

• Health (M)
• English (1)
• Sport (1)
• Technology (M)
• Bio-medical (2)
• Business (M)
• Tourism (3)
• Health (2)

• Management (M)
• Sport (1)
• Social justice (2)
• Health (1)
• Multimedia (3)
• Personal development (2)
• ICT (1)

5
Early comments

• (Student) Very helpful. It felt like the tutor
  was able to expand more . Often when you read
  feedback, things can get misunderstood or meant
  in a different way. I felt this way was very
  clear.
• (Staff) I think with practice this will get
  quicker as I get more used to things.

6
Project manager comments

• 2-minute summary

7
Main findings

• Students like audio feedback!
• personal, detail, careful consideration
• Staff like it - better feedback
• Best chance of saving staff time if
• comfortable with technology
• give lots of feedback
• write slowly but record speech quickly

8
Practice guidelines

• Dont expect to save time immediately
• Handheld recorder more convenient?
• record direct to MP3 USB port
• Keep files short (lt5 mins?)
• Good enough sound quality (32kbps mono?)
• Get approval for audio use
• See website for more

9
To be continued

• Sounds Good 2
• more at Leeds Met
• 3 other HEIs
• Widening Stakeholder Engagement
• collaboration with 2 HEA subject centres

10
For the future

• Staff quicker with practice?
• Better feedback/guidance saves time in
  medium/long term?
• Improved practice guidelines?
• Electronic submission audio feedback?
• Speech-to-text for written feedback?
• Feedback sent automatically?
• Tutor-student dialogue via audio?
• Novelty wears off?