Using Technology to Facilitate Grading Consistency in Large Classes

Abstract

University classes in marketing are often large and therefore require teams of teachers to cover all of the necessary activities. A major problem with teaching teams is the inconsistency that results from myriad individuals offering subjective opinions (Preston 1997). This innovation uses the latest moderation techniques along with Audience Response Technology (ART) to enhance the learning experience by providing more consistent and reliable grading in large classes. Assessment items are moderated before they are graded in meetings that employ ART. Results show the process is effective when the teaching team is very large, or there is a diverse range of experienced and inexperienced teachers (Neale and Cathcart 2010). This "behind the scenes" innovation is not immediately apparent to students, but results in more consistent grades, more useful feedback for students, and more confident graders.