Assuring Quality through Student Evaluation

This chapter describes the move from early paper-based assessments of student evaluation to more sophisticated modern approaches using clicker technology, online surveys and cloud-based feedback systems. The authors examine advances that have occurred since the original chapter by Stringer and Finlay (1993) on ‘Assuring quality through student evaluation’ by examining a range of research-based approaches to student feedback. These include an examination of the factors that underpin student evaluation (Stringer and Irwing 1998) through clicker-based approaches (Stringer and Stringer 2012b) and Google-maps-based approaches (Stringer and Stringer 2012a) to feedback approaches using cloud-based approaches and mobile phones (Stringer et al. 2014). The studies highlight both the opportunities provided by new technology in new learning environments but also point out the challenges that need to be addressed as students and staff make increasing use of online devices for both social and educational purposes. The authors have been fortunate in being involved throughout this time in a range of different feedback approaches, which provide a convenient means of tracing feedback development over several decades.