External Examiners Seminar January 2006

1
External Examiners SeminarJanuary 2006

• Experienced Examiners Forum
• Alan Dordoy/Enid Ashdown
• Academic Registry

2
Outline

• Update on regulations and current Northumbria
  issues
• Summary of points from 2004/5 External Examiner
  Reports
• Part A (TQI)
• Part B
• Discussion on actions that we need to take

3
Update Regulations

• Academic Structures group ARNA issues and the
  Universitys modular framework
• PG pass mark and compensation
• Requirement to pass dissertation
• Classification of honours
• Role of level 4 plus ordinary degree
• Academic Misconduct Group reviewing rules on
  plagiarism etc
• Extenuating Circumstances rules also being
  reviewed

4
Update Current Issues

• SITS implementation
• Interface with Blackboard has caused problems
  for students and module tutors
• Transfer of assessment information and input of
  ARNA rules still ongoing
• Production of exam board reports
• National Student Survey
• Lowest scores for feedback on assessed work
• Collaborative Provision Audit April/May 2006

5
2004/5 Reports Part A

• TQI Section (Part A of Report)
• Northumbria practice to post Part A of all your
  reports do not edit to one per subject

6
TQI Site Example

• TQI site shows answers on the 3 standards
  questions, plus comments where a No posted
• Also space for strengths

7
Part A TQI

• Two No responses returned 2004/5
• Standards on two computing programmes (HND and
  Honours top-up)
• Procedures, compensation and extenuating
  circumstances on Languages programme
• Where a no is returned, School must report to
  ULT. Actions approved by DVC and posted to TQI
  site
• A good range of strengths identified

8
2004/5 Reports Part B

• Vast majority of reports positive. Some
  representative issues
• Role of Externals
• Report template too time-consuming? Should we
  revise it?
• Access to eLP sites wanted?
• Schedule for years examining activity
  requested last year have Schools provided?
• Evidence of internal moderation not always
  provided

9
2004/5 Reports

• Regulations
• Technical Extenuating Circumstances when should
  MEBs raise marks?
• Compensation (when) is it appropriate?
• The ordinary degree structure
• Honours classification rules (to generous or too
  harsh?)
• Identification of dyslexic students

10
2004/5 Reports

• Assessment Process
• Should we use more exams?
• Use of full range of marks
• Need to share good practice, especially on
  timeliness and quality of feedback to students

11
2004/5 Reports

• Student Performance
• Poor use of language IELTS scores adequate?
  Home students?
• Poor referencing/over-reliance on web
• Numerical ability?
• Adequate preparation of direct entrants to final
  year (from Foundation Degrees)

12
2004/5 Reports

• Resources
• Staffing resources stretched in some areas
• Investment in non-staffing resources?
• Collaborative Programmes
• Moderation workload
• Variations in performance?
• Getting marks back in time for MEB
• Plagiarism?

13
Discussion on Actions

• Should Report template be revised?
• Access to eLP sites wanted?
• Technical Extenuating Circumstances when should
  MEBs raise marks?
• Compensation (when) is it appropriate?
• Should we use more exams?
• What to do about poor skills (language, numeracy,
  referencing, use of sources)?
• Is preparation of FD students adequate?
• Performance of Collaborative Students?