Assessment of higher order learning outcomes such as critical thinking, problem solving and creat... more Assessment of higher order learning outcomes such as critical thinking, problem solving and creativity has remained a challenge for universities. While newer technologies such as social networking tools have the potential to support these intended outcomes, academics’ assessment practice is slow to change. University mission statements and unit outlines may purport the value of higher order skills; however, questions remain about how well academics are equipped to design their curriculum and particularly their assessment strategies accordingly. This paper reports on an investigation of academic practice in assessing higher order learning in their units. Despite their intentions towards higher order learning outcomes for their students, the results suggest academics may make decisions when planning their assessment tasks that inadvertently lead students on the path towards lower order outcomes. Among the themes to emerge from the study is the importance of academics’ confidence and their attitudes towards the role of assessment in learning and how these perspectives, along with the types of learning outcomes they intend for their students, can influence their task design.
International Journal of Educational Management, 2011
Purpose–As educational technologies are more widely adopted in higher education teaching and lear... more Purpose–As educational technologies are more widely adopted in higher education teaching and learning, publishers often include online resources to accompany their textbook offerings. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study forming part of a larger ongoing evaluation of the third party software product WileyPLUS. Design/methodology/approach–The paper describes the integration of the publisher's tools into a specific curriculum context and takes a critical look at the pedagogical effectiveness ...
There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher education: they ... more There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher education: they are demographically diverse, have extensive external time demands, and expect greater flexibility and support during their programs. As a consequence of this and other changes to the higher education sector, many universities worldwide have introduced a range of information and communication technologies to provide students with flexible options for study.
Abstract: The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures... more Abstract: The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures has increased markedly in recent years. Students have responded positively, and for many their use has transformed learning-freeing them up from rigid timetables by providing choice in lecture attendance and supporting learning by extending the lecture experience and enabling them to revisit key concepts and ideas in their own time. Less transformational has been the impact on teaching.
The recent emergence of web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) has heralded a growing use of digit... more The recent emergence of web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) has heralded a growing use of digital web-based lecture recordings for all students. This is pushing the boundaries of established practice and challenging the role of the face-to-face lecture as a prime teaching strategy. Studies to date on the use and uptake of webbased lecture technologies have explored the technical and operational issues surrounding access and use.
There has been a shift by the Australasian tertiary education sector towards open source Learning... more There has been a shift by the Australasian tertiary education sector towards open source Learning Management Systems (LMSs), in part due to the potential for extending and tailoring the systems using community sourced plugins. This paper reports on a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of Moodle extensions based on a six-month cross-faculty project conducted at Macquarie University.
115 ePortfolio implementation case studies: challenges and opportunities Margot McNeill Macquarie... more 115 ePortfolio implementation case studies: challenges and opportunities Margot McNeill Macquarie University margot. mcneill@ mq. edu. au MingMing Diao Amanda Parker Macquarie University Abstract EPortfolios provide a web-based space where students in demonstrate their development of expertise in a wide range of skills and knowledge, whether in discipline knowledge or graduate capabilities (JISC, 2007).
The aim of this paper is to discuss the implications of SL for planning scholarship and practice.... more The aim of this paper is to discuss the implications of SL for planning scholarship and practice. We begin with a brief overview of the role of plannersʼ tools such as maps, 3D visualisations and artistsʼ impressions. We focus on their use as political technologies to lay the ground for social movements, develop planning as a discipline and to inform planning decisions. We then examine the applications of SL to planning teaching drawing on field work inworld and existing literature.
Abstract There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher educati... more Abstract There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher education: they come from a wider sphere of the community; they are busier with work and family commitments outside their study; and they demand greater flexibility and support during their programs.
Abstract Encouraging academics to use educational technologies to enhance learning and teaching r... more Abstract Encouraging academics to use educational technologies to enhance learning and teaching requires building their sense of competence, relatedness and autonomy. This paper describes how self-determination theory was used as the basis of a professional learning program to support a university-wide rollout of a new Learning Management System (LMS).
Web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) have been introduced by some Australian Universities in rec... more Web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) have been introduced by some Australian Universities in recognition that many students need flexible learning choices during their studies. This paper reports on some of the findings of a research project," the impact of WBLT on current and future practice in learning and teaching". The research was conducted across four Australian universities, with data obtained from surveys and in-depth interviews with both staff and students who had used WBLT.
This paper reports the findings from a survey of unit convenors in an Australian university, whic... more This paper reports the findings from a survey of unit convenors in an Australian university, which explored how technologies were used to support assessment. The results suggest that while uptake of technologies for assessment may slowly be rising, the uses are frequently limited to assessing students‟ ability to understand or apply concepts or procedures.
This study is part of a funded research project that examines possible factors that may influence... more This study is part of a funded research project that examines possible factors that may influence students' advanced level of knowledge construction. This study examines if group size of the online discussion is related to the frequency of advanced level of knowledge construction occurrences. Group size of an online discussion refers to the number of people who contributed in the discussion.
09:00 – 09:35 Welcome and Housekeeping Mike Keppell, Charles Sturt University Welcome to Country ... more 09:00 – 09:35 Welcome and Housekeeping Mike Keppell, Charles Sturt University Welcome to Country Joan Tranter, University of Technology Sydney Invited Speaker Opening Address Shirley Alexander, University of Technology Sydney 9:35 – 10:30 Keynote Address Authentic learning and emerging technologies Jan Herrington, Murdoch University 10:30 – 11:00 Morning Break Endeavour Room ... 11:00 – 11:20 Blackboard - the nexus of your enterprise virtual learning environment (VLE) Endeavour Room Learners, Learning and Educational Practice
ABSTRACT In their article, Miranda in the Brave New World: Learning in a Web 2.0 millennium, Barn... more ABSTRACT In their article, Miranda in the Brave New World: Learning in a Web 2.0 millennium, Barnes and Tynan (2007) tell the story of an imaginary British student who uses technology seamlessly to stay connected almost 24 x 7 with friends, peers and teachers in a global learning environment. Whether she is representative of the majority of university students is a topic of debate in the literature.
The availability of publisher supplied software products from publishers is becoming more common,... more The availability of publisher supplied software products from publishers is becoming more common, yet there is little evidence in the literature about how these technologies can be utilised in specific contexts to develop a deeper level of engagement for students. This research project evaluated a publisher supplied software product, WileyPLUS to discover whether it was a tool that could encourage a deeper level of engagement from students and therefore a better learning environment.
E-portfolios provide a web-based space where students can demonstrate their development of expert... more E-portfolios provide a web-based space where students can demonstrate their development of expertise in a wide range of skills and knowledge, whether in discipline knowledge or graduate capabilities. However, it is yet to be demonstrated how readily these tools can be integrated within the university curriculum. This paper reports on the results of a pilot implementation of the Mahara e-portfolio tool in an Australian university, involving different curriculum contexts across two semesters.
The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures has incre... more The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures has increased markedly in recent years. Students have responded positively, and for many their use has transformed learning–freeing them up from rigid timetables by providing choice in lecture attendance and supporting learning by extending the lecture experience and enabling them to revisit key concepts and ideas in their own time. Less transformational has been the impact on teaching.
Abstract 'The impact of web-based lecture technologies on current and future practice in learning... more Abstract 'The impact of web-based lecture technologies on current and future practice in learning and teaching'was a collaborative project across four Australian universities, funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). The project was both exploratory and developmental in nature and according to the project's external evaluator, was successful in achieving its aims.
Assessment of higher order learning outcomes such as critical thinking, problem solving and creat... more Assessment of higher order learning outcomes such as critical thinking, problem solving and creativity has remained a challenge for universities. While newer technologies such as social networking tools have the potential to support these intended outcomes, academics’ assessment practice is slow to change. University mission statements and unit outlines may purport the value of higher order skills; however, questions remain about how well academics are equipped to design their curriculum and particularly their assessment strategies accordingly. This paper reports on an investigation of academic practice in assessing higher order learning in their units. Despite their intentions towards higher order learning outcomes for their students, the results suggest academics may make decisions when planning their assessment tasks that inadvertently lead students on the path towards lower order outcomes. Among the themes to emerge from the study is the importance of academics’ confidence and their attitudes towards the role of assessment in learning and how these perspectives, along with the types of learning outcomes they intend for their students, can influence their task design.
International Journal of Educational Management, 2011
Purpose–As educational technologies are more widely adopted in higher education teaching and lear... more Purpose–As educational technologies are more widely adopted in higher education teaching and learning, publishers often include online resources to accompany their textbook offerings. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study forming part of a larger ongoing evaluation of the third party software product WileyPLUS. Design/methodology/approach–The paper describes the integration of the publisher's tools into a specific curriculum context and takes a critical look at the pedagogical effectiveness ...
There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher education: they ... more There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher education: they are demographically diverse, have extensive external time demands, and expect greater flexibility and support during their programs. As a consequence of this and other changes to the higher education sector, many universities worldwide have introduced a range of information and communication technologies to provide students with flexible options for study.
Abstract: The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures... more Abstract: The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures has increased markedly in recent years. Students have responded positively, and for many their use has transformed learning-freeing them up from rigid timetables by providing choice in lecture attendance and supporting learning by extending the lecture experience and enabling them to revisit key concepts and ideas in their own time. Less transformational has been the impact on teaching.
The recent emergence of web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) has heralded a growing use of digit... more The recent emergence of web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) has heralded a growing use of digital web-based lecture recordings for all students. This is pushing the boundaries of established practice and challenging the role of the face-to-face lecture as a prime teaching strategy. Studies to date on the use and uptake of webbased lecture technologies have explored the technical and operational issues surrounding access and use.
There has been a shift by the Australasian tertiary education sector towards open source Learning... more There has been a shift by the Australasian tertiary education sector towards open source Learning Management Systems (LMSs), in part due to the potential for extending and tailoring the systems using community sourced plugins. This paper reports on a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of Moodle extensions based on a six-month cross-faculty project conducted at Macquarie University.
115 ePortfolio implementation case studies: challenges and opportunities Margot McNeill Macquarie... more 115 ePortfolio implementation case studies: challenges and opportunities Margot McNeill Macquarie University margot. mcneill@ mq. edu. au MingMing Diao Amanda Parker Macquarie University Abstract EPortfolios provide a web-based space where students in demonstrate their development of expertise in a wide range of skills and knowledge, whether in discipline knowledge or graduate capabilities (JISC, 2007).
The aim of this paper is to discuss the implications of SL for planning scholarship and practice.... more The aim of this paper is to discuss the implications of SL for planning scholarship and practice. We begin with a brief overview of the role of plannersʼ tools such as maps, 3D visualisations and artistsʼ impressions. We focus on their use as political technologies to lay the ground for social movements, develop planning as a discipline and to inform planning decisions. We then examine the applications of SL to planning teaching drawing on field work inworld and existing literature.
Abstract There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher educati... more Abstract There is now widespread recognition of the changing nature of students in higher education: they come from a wider sphere of the community; they are busier with work and family commitments outside their study; and they demand greater flexibility and support during their programs.
Abstract Encouraging academics to use educational technologies to enhance learning and teaching r... more Abstract Encouraging academics to use educational technologies to enhance learning and teaching requires building their sense of competence, relatedness and autonomy. This paper describes how self-determination theory was used as the basis of a professional learning program to support a university-wide rollout of a new Learning Management System (LMS).
Web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) have been introduced by some Australian Universities in rec... more Web-based lecture technologies (WBLT) have been introduced by some Australian Universities in recognition that many students need flexible learning choices during their studies. This paper reports on some of the findings of a research project," the impact of WBLT on current and future practice in learning and teaching". The research was conducted across four Australian universities, with data obtained from surveys and in-depth interviews with both staff and students who had used WBLT.
This paper reports the findings from a survey of unit convenors in an Australian university, whic... more This paper reports the findings from a survey of unit convenors in an Australian university, which explored how technologies were used to support assessment. The results suggest that while uptake of technologies for assessment may slowly be rising, the uses are frequently limited to assessing students‟ ability to understand or apply concepts or procedures.
This study is part of a funded research project that examines possible factors that may influence... more This study is part of a funded research project that examines possible factors that may influence students' advanced level of knowledge construction. This study examines if group size of the online discussion is related to the frequency of advanced level of knowledge construction occurrences. Group size of an online discussion refers to the number of people who contributed in the discussion.
09:00 – 09:35 Welcome and Housekeeping Mike Keppell, Charles Sturt University Welcome to Country ... more 09:00 – 09:35 Welcome and Housekeeping Mike Keppell, Charles Sturt University Welcome to Country Joan Tranter, University of Technology Sydney Invited Speaker Opening Address Shirley Alexander, University of Technology Sydney 9:35 – 10:30 Keynote Address Authentic learning and emerging technologies Jan Herrington, Murdoch University 10:30 – 11:00 Morning Break Endeavour Room ... 11:00 – 11:20 Blackboard - the nexus of your enterprise virtual learning environment (VLE) Endeavour Room Learners, Learning and Educational Practice
ABSTRACT In their article, Miranda in the Brave New World: Learning in a Web 2.0 millennium, Barn... more ABSTRACT In their article, Miranda in the Brave New World: Learning in a Web 2.0 millennium, Barnes and Tynan (2007) tell the story of an imaginary British student who uses technology seamlessly to stay connected almost 24 x 7 with friends, peers and teachers in a global learning environment. Whether she is representative of the majority of university students is a topic of debate in the literature.
The availability of publisher supplied software products from publishers is becoming more common,... more The availability of publisher supplied software products from publishers is becoming more common, yet there is little evidence in the literature about how these technologies can be utilised in specific contexts to develop a deeper level of engagement for students. This research project evaluated a publisher supplied software product, WileyPLUS to discover whether it was a tool that could encourage a deeper level of engagement from students and therefore a better learning environment.
E-portfolios provide a web-based space where students can demonstrate their development of expert... more E-portfolios provide a web-based space where students can demonstrate their development of expertise in a wide range of skills and knowledge, whether in discipline knowledge or graduate capabilities. However, it is yet to be demonstrated how readily these tools can be integrated within the university curriculum. This paper reports on the results of a pilot implementation of the Mahara e-portfolio tool in an Australian university, involving different curriculum contexts across two semesters.
The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures has incre... more The uptake of web-based lecture technologies for recording and delivering live lectures has increased markedly in recent years. Students have responded positively, and for many their use has transformed learning–freeing them up from rigid timetables by providing choice in lecture attendance and supporting learning by extending the lecture experience and enabling them to revisit key concepts and ideas in their own time. Less transformational has been the impact on teaching.
Abstract 'The impact of web-based lecture technologies on current and future practice in learning... more Abstract 'The impact of web-based lecture technologies on current and future practice in learning and teaching'was a collaborative project across four Australian universities, funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). The project was both exploratory and developmental in nature and according to the project's external evaluator, was successful in achieving its aims.
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Papers by Margot McNeill