Crowdmark is an online platform that helps instructors manage and grade assignments and tests quickly and efficiently. Paper assignments and tests can be scanned and input into Crowdmark, while online assignments can be submitted to Crowdmark directly by students. Markers see a grid of anonymous pages they can navigate and grade concurrently using markup tools that include shareable and reusable comments and a tagging facility for easy searching. Instructors can monitor their grading progress at any time and grades are calculated automatically when grading has finished.
Ìýintegrates with the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's learning management system and is free for UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ instructors. For midterms and final exams, Crowdmark can be used in conjunction with a companion UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ system namedÌýOdysseyÌýthat provides examination seat assignment and printing/scanning services.ÌýÌýStep-by-step guides, a FAQ, and help related to using Crowdmark or Odyssey are available atÌýUÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Crowdmark.
Benefits
As outlined byÌý,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý, Crowdmark has the following benefits:
- Time spent grading is substantially reduced. (Ìýsuggests a 50% reduction.)
- Assessments can be either electronic or paper-based.
- The platform facilitates collaborative grading from varied locations.
- Grades are automatically totalled and analytics generated.
- New and pre-defined grading comments can be shared and reused by markers. Ìý
- Reduced grading time facilitatesÌýthe prompt return of assessments, grades, and feedback to students.
- Submissions are anonymous to markers.
- Marking quality and consistency is easier to monitor.
- Original marked papers are available online for instructor-student meetings.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Evidence of Efficacy
Crowdmark can substantially reduce time spent grading, facilitating faster feedback.ÌýNumerous studies indicate that faster feedback improves learning (;Ìý.
Best Practices
- Instructors planning to use paper-based assessments will need to take into consideration the resources needed to scan the assessments before they can be marked.
- Instructors working with teaching assistants should plan time to train them prior to utilizing Crowdmark in order to maximize the benefits of the tool. Crowdmark has a number of keyboard shortcuts that can save markers time.
- Expectations about feedback for students should be clearly communicated in order to ensure consistency (how much, how often, what kind of content), as students may expect more detailed feedback using this digital medium.
- Instructors with teaching assistants can also monitor the quality of feedback being given in order to ensure that Ìýexpectations set in the beginning are being met as marking progresses.
- Crowdmark can also be used for online exams.ÌýConsult this PDFÌýto find out more.Ìý
Accessibility
It is important to consider accessibility when determining whether a technology fits the needs of your class. Crowdmark has provided information aboutÌýÌýwhen using this technology.
Support
If you would like support applying these tips to your own teaching, CTE staff members are here to help.Ìý View theÌýCTE SupportÌýpage to findÌýthe most relevant staff member to contact.
References
- Chickering, A. W., & Gamson, Z. F. (1989). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education.ÌýBiochemical Education,Ìý17(3), 140-141. doi:10.1016/0307-4412(89)90094-0
- . (n.d.). Learning Technology Hub, University of British Columbia. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- Bate, J., & Boyer, G. (2018).ÌýÌý(PDF). micsymposium.org. Retrieved April 3, 2019.Ìý
- Opitz, B., Ferdinand, N. K., & Mecklinger, A. (2011). Timing matters: the impact of immediate and delayed feedback on artificial language learning. Frontiers in human neuroscience,Ìý5, 8. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2011.00008
- . Learning and Teaching Centre. Simon Fraser University.ÌýRetrieved April 4, 2019, from
Resources
- ÌýdescribesÌýÌýthe process and impact of using Crowdmark in courses of approximately 350 students.
- discusses theÌýunanticipated benefits ofÌýhaving digital copies of the original marked exams and Crowdmark’s automatically generated statistics.ÌýÌý
- CTE Blog PostÌý
Ìýlets others remix, tweak, and build upon our work non-commercially, as long as they credit us andÌýindicate if changes were made. Use this citation format:ÌýCrowdmark.ÌýCentre for Teaching Excellence, University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ