Master Degree in LIS, a comparision, 3
Assessment: most of the modules (except Research Seminar) in LIS MA course in Iran are assessed mainly by usual examination. Normal examinations could be efficient and appropriate assessment method for some modules but not for all. Another good point in UK LIS master degree which is worth mentioning is the assessment method. Unlike Iran, the assessment of almost all modules at City Univ. is based on the coursework and assignment. Let me give some examples:
- for the module “Information Resources and Users” students have to analyse information needs of a particular group and write a report in 3000-4000 words;
- the assessment for the module “Information Retrieval Systems and Applications” is based on the practical participation of students in every sessions and a 2500-3000 word report that students write after the evaluation of an IR system;
- for “Information Law and Policy” students have to choose one of the predetermined questions and discuss it in detail and make a presentation at class and answer to the questions of the classmates;
- for the module “Libraries Past, Present and Future” students must choose either a specific library or library service or a tightly defined library sector (e.g. small urban public library branches, medical libraries in large hospitals) and then in an essay of between 2,500 and 4,000 words discuss the current situation of the chosen library, the most important factors promoting change, and possible outcomes of these changes over the next 10 years.
You can see that in all these courseworks and assignments students need to apply all they’ve learned during the module and this is the best way to evaluate their knowledge. Besides that, writng several reports and making several presentations make students prepared for writing a good dissertation and entering to the research area. I should mention here that all the details of the courseworks and assignments are determined in the beginning of the term and are told to students in the first session of the module. The submission deadline of the assignment is determined in the first place and the delay is not accepted (even one hour). All assignmnet are submitted in electronic format through electronic learning environment of the university.
- for the module “Information Resources and Users” students have to analyse information needs of a particular group and write a report in 3000-4000 words;
- the assessment for the module “Information Retrieval Systems and Applications” is based on the practical participation of students in every sessions and a 2500-3000 word report that students write after the evaluation of an IR system;
- for “Information Law and Policy” students have to choose one of the predetermined questions and discuss it in detail and make a presentation at class and answer to the questions of the classmates;
- for the module “Libraries Past, Present and Future” students must choose either a specific library or library service or a tightly defined library sector (e.g. small urban public library branches, medical libraries in large hospitals) and then in an essay of between 2,500 and 4,000 words discuss the current situation of the chosen library, the most important factors promoting change, and possible outcomes of these changes over the next 10 years.
You can see that in all these courseworks and assignments students need to apply all they’ve learned during the module and this is the best way to evaluate their knowledge. Besides that, writng several reports and making several presentations make students prepared for writing a good dissertation and entering to the research area. I should mention here that all the details of the courseworks and assignments are determined in the beginning of the term and are told to students in the first session of the module. The submission deadline of the assignment is determined in the first place and the delay is not accepted (even one hour). All assignmnet are submitted in electronic format through electronic learning environment of the university.
posted by Anonymous @ 8:16 AM
1 Comments:
At 12:29 AM,
Maryam said…
It was very interesting. I attended some courses in the faculty. all classes have a pc and all lecturers present their notes through power point.the assessment policy is the same in RMIT. In the first session at least 2 assignments are introduced to the students. The assignments are very time consuming and require much effort.Classes are so boring. You don't need to listen or take note because all course documents are accessible through the intranet of the university.The number of students decline after the first session and as i noticed most of students were doing their own work with computers-checkhing email,...- in the lab classes. but students have to study to do their assignments and through this learn much better than when they are just auditors.
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