Against the backdrop of a rapid reimagination of digital pedagogy, how can post-secondary institutions develop forward-thinking policies to support and encourage the adoption of open forms of assessment?
This session is a case study on the creation, approval, and implementation of a novel policy addressing Digital Assessment Tools (pay-to-play online homework systems) at UBC Okanagan. By considering issues of teaching & learning, affordability, and equal access, this policy actively encourages the uptake of Open forms of assessment such as open test banks. Initially passed in 2020, there is a projected cost savings of $500,000CAD per year at our 11,000 student campus.
The implementation of this policy is also a strong example for students serving in positions of leadership on post-secondary academic governance bodies. We will consider the intersection of grass-roots advocacy with institutional policy. Roadblocks and hiccups will be candidly shared, with the intention of equipping participants to take their learning back to their home campuses.
After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:
- Understand how Digital Assessment Tools are traditionally used, their issues of accessibility, and the negative financial impacts on students
- Learn how this policy was developed, approved, and implemented
- Understand the impact this policy has on the adoption of Open, student affordability, and how textbook publishers reacted
- Identify and brainstorm ways to bring similar policies back to their home campuses
