Online Assessments for Reflection within a Large Class: A Case Study of English for Educational Development Law Students at the University of the Western Cape

Abstract

This study reports on the use of online assessments in English for an Educational Development module for law students at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. It highlights the benefits of using the method of an online test to manage and enable learning by reflection in a large class setting. The design and development of online materials and assessment activities is based on a theoretical and conceptual framework that stems from the main schools of learning, namely behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism, and alternative assessment. Upon the completion of the course, a survey of 12 questions was given to 530 students to determine the benefits and challenges they experienced while completing their online test within a formative and reflective context. The adoption of e-Learning practices to enhance teaching and learning was explored and has shown its advantages. Results revealed that this method enables students to engage with learning materials, stay motivated, and test their own understanding of meaningful knowledge in the English language especially in the Law context.  It is evident that the use of online methods for testing are beneficial for a large class context as in this case. It makes the learning and management thereof easier for both the learner and educator and accommodates different learning styles. Apart from the advantages, the findings of this study included some ethical and technical challenges and disadvantages of online assessments.