An Evaluation of the Effect of Basing an Assignment on Broadcast Material in a Multi‐Media Course

Abstract

Open University courses (except in Science) are generally designed so that students who cannot receive the broadcasting component can nevertheless still gain course credits, through assessments, even if they do not see or listen to the broadcasts. This policy has unintentionally placed significant limitations on the way broadcasting can be used. To test the effect of changing this policy, one assignment was set based partly on broadcast material which did in fact count towards assessment in an Educational Studies course. Not surprisingly, students found the programmes linked with this unit the most useful of any in the three Educational Studies courses in 1972. More significant however were the difficulties that arose from the need to ensure that all the relevant materials reached the students in time, and the reactions of students when put under pressure by assessment requirements to view and listen to broadcasts. The implications of the findings are discussed, both in terms of methods of evaluation and the design and assessment of multi‐media courses.

Notes

* I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Richard Hooper (the BBC producer) and William Prescott and Susan Blacklock, colleagues in the University's Institute of Educational Technology. Without their co‐operation and assistance, this research would not have been possible.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

A. W. Bates*

Dr. Bates is a Lecturer in Media Research Methods at the Open University. He was formerly at the National Foundation for Educational Research.