07 November 2013, 3:36

Hi,

I was just wondering if other institutions are using the submit page feature in groups for summative assessment?

We are finding that tutors are increasingly asking students to build pages in mahara as it provides a more flexible and suitable method for assessment. But have come across some limitations to the extent to which the submit page feature can accomodate formal submission.

We'd perhaps be looking to develop something that gave a more formal submission process, with a start, due and post date for feedback on submitted pages. We'd also like to set a common release date for feedback placed on pages. This would allow tutors to provide feedback on pages that was then released it back to all of the students at the same time.

Is this something others would be looking to develop or find useful from pedagogic perspective?

11 November 2013, 11:41

Hello Adam,

Thank you for your post. We already have a feature request to hold feedback until a tutor is ready to submit the final feedback. See https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+bug/1242464 for information, and please feel free to add your own thoughts.

We do not have deadlines etc. in Mahara because assessment was not a big part of the portfolio concept for Mahara since it was developed as personal learning environment and not as assessment tool. However, there are some people who want to use it for assessment purposes. Such features can be implemented if it is in a flexible way so that those who do not wish to use them don't have to see them for example because then pages could get much more complicated. ;-)

A feature like this can only be implemented with funding behind it as it is not quite non-trivial. You are welcome to elaborate on your specifications. Usually, we use the wiki at https://wiki.mahara.org/index.php/Developer_Area/Specifications_in_Development for that, but discussions are better here in the forum.

Those Mahara users who use Moodle can already achieve working with deadlines etc. by using the Mahara assignment submission plugin. That way you can leverage the built-in assessment features from Moodle and still build a personal ePortfolio in Mahara.

Cheers

Kristina

11 November 2013, 23:33

Thanks Kristina,

I agree with you about Mahara not becoming an assessment tool, this is my feeling too. I think there is a balance to be drawn so that mahara remains a personal learning environment.

Thanks for letting me know about the existing feature request, https://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara/+bug/1242464 I've added my support to this. It's something our insitution would like to see developed and possibly assist in funding.

Unfortunately, we are not a Moodle institution and don't have the integration for assessment and this is perhaps why the issue arises for us with academics who are famliar with this type of workflow for assessment purposes. 

13 November 2013, 14:55

Hello Adam,

Thank you for adding your support on the wishlist item. If your institution is willing to assist with funding, we can fast track the feature, i.e. work with you to define the scope of what you would be willing to fund. Please let me know if you are interested in that.

Cheers

Kristina

31 August 2014, 14:57

Just making the connections: The feature description is at https://wiki.mahara.org/index.php/Developer_Area/Specifications_in_Development/Scheduled_Bulk_Feedback

Adam is seeking partners to cofund this development work. See https://mahara.org/interaction/forum/topic.php?id=6421