A chemistry graduate from the Institute of Technology of Tallaght, Dublin. After completing his degree he joined CompuPharma Ltd., a multimedia company that specialised in designing software to teach validation and pharmaceutical chemistry. He worked for 18 months there before returning to education to start his PhD in Organic Chemistry in Trinity college. After his PhD he spent just under five years working in Pharmachemical Ireland, the branch of IBEC responsible for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. His main role within IBEC was to build relationships between the education sector and the pharmaceutical industry. Mark then worked with ITT Dublin to lecture chemistry at all levels from first year to masters students. While in ITT Dublin, Mark became the Moodle™ coordinator for the science department. Mark also works with Hibernia college to teach chemistry on-line to students studying for their post graduate certificate in education. Technology and education have been strong influences throughout his working life. In recent years the marriage of these two factors increased his capacity to deliver his classes in a flexible manner. Mark now works for the Institutes of Technology of Ireland. The main role of his present job is to increase the capacity of each institute to deliver their modules and courses in a flexible manner.
“Flexible Assessment”
The assessment of students is one of the most important elements of higher education1. There is a tendency for assessment to drive learners towards strategic learning. Academic institutions are, for the most part, concentrating on measuring and proving that the learner has met specific learning outcomes of their course. Professor John Biggs advocates an approach referred to as "constructive alignment". This approach encourages the alignment between the intended learning outcomes, teaching and learning activities and assessment. This workshop will highlight case studies where a variety of assessment techniques were used with the students to move from an approach of “Assessment of Learning” towards “Assessment for Learning”
At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- explain the terms “constructive alignment” and “flexible learning”
- examine current modules that you teach and identify options available to increase the flexibility of assessments provided within modules
- Identify how technology can be used to reduce the administrative workload associated with assessments for lecturers
Link to the recording (with 3 minutes of introductory music - "St. Patrick's Day" and followed by 10 minutes of celebratory music - Enjoy!)
Feel free to post comment or questions on the blog, before or after the event.
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