Designing a less distracting marking process for coursework assignments

Abstract

This presentation will outline steps taken in the International Education Institute to develop an efficient marking process for coursework assignments, which minimises time spent on distracting tasks (such as downloading and labelling files), while maximising the proportion of assessment time spent on evaluating and providing feedback on student work. The efficiency of marking processes within the institute became an area of focus with the growth of student numbers on postgraduate programmes, resulting in modules where 100+ coursework assignments needed to be marked within a relatively short period. Based on personal reflection and feedback from colleagues, the streamlining of marking processes appears to have minimised distractions from the core activities of assessment work, while also reducing the amount of time staff need to spend on administrative components of this work. While not explicitly measured, it seems likely that these changes will have made a positive contribution to staff wellbeing by reducing the amount of time spent on administrative tasks at pressured points in the academic year.