Extending the pedagogic role of on line interactive assessment: providing feedback on short free-text responses

This case study describes an extension to the range of interactive computer based assessment question types already in use at the UK Open University (OU). The question type under development marks free-text answers of around a sentence in length, and gives tailored feedback to students on incorrect and incomplete answers. The questions are authored using linguistically based software provided by Intelligent Assessment Technologies Ltd. (IAT) and early student responses are used to refine the answer matching. A small number of these questions will be incorporated into regular summative iCMAs (interactive computer marked assignments) for a new interdisciplinary science course to be presented to students for the first time in 2008. Formal evaluation has not yet taken place, but informal evaluation indicates that most students enjoy responding to questions of this type and find the feedback useful. Conference theme : great designs for assessmen