Published: 26 Sep 2017 | Last Updated: 10 Aug 2023 11:05:16

Educators will now have a valuable insight into the way technology can enhance assessment and feedback thanks to a new e-book from the Bloomsbury Learning Environment (BLE).  

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is a leading partner at the BLE and played a key role in this project. Sarah Sherman of the RVC and BLE Consortium, and Leo Havemann of Birkbeck, University of London, have co-edited the e-book which explores the findings of a wide ranging two-year research and dissemination project. The project focused on the ways in which technology improves the assessment and feedback process, feeding into the education sector’s widening conversation about the use of technology.  The e-book contains three research papers which capture snapshots of current practice and include specific examples of practice at the RVC from which broad recommendations have been drawn to help inform wider practice. 

These papers focus on:  

• The use of technology across the assessment lifecycle
• The roles played by administrative staff in assessment processes
• Technology-supported assessment in distance learning  

The e-book also contains 21 case studies of digital assessment and feedback practices from across the UK, including five from colleagues at the RVC, to give insight into the adoption of particular tools, and the associated benefits and challenges. These are complimented by three further case studies outlining technical development, which have been undertaken locally to support or enhance aspects of practice, including one based around innovative work at the RVC.   Sarah Sherman, BLE Service Manager, said: “We are delighted to have published the results of this excellent joint research project conducted between the BLE and its partners, including the RVC. We believe this research will provide extensive insight into how new technologies can help to build upon current practices of assessment and feedback.”   The e-book will be formally launched at a special event on Thursday 26th October, but is now available for download from www.ble.ac.uk/ebook . Further information about the project can be found on www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/assessment 

Notes to Editors 

For more information please contact: Uche Graves (uche.graves@plmr.co.uk) or Zoe White (zoe.white@plmr.co.uk) Press Line: 0800 368 9520  

About the Royal Veterinary College 

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a constituent College of the University of London. The RVC offers undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences, being ranked in the top 10 universities nationally for biosciences degrees.  
• It is currently the only veterinary school in the world to hold full accreditation from AVMA, EAEVE, RCVS and AVBC.   
• A research-led institution, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) the RVC maintained its position as the top HEFCE funded veterinary focused research institution.   T
• The RVC also provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals; the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in central London, the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (Europe's largest small animal referral centre), the Equine Referral Hospital, and the Farm Animal Clinical Centre located at the Hertfordshire campus.   
• The Animal Care Trust is the Royal Veterinary College's (RVC) registered charity and since 1982 it has specialised in improving animal health and welfare.      

Bloomsbury Learning Environment

• The Bloomsbury Learning Environment (BLE) is a shared e-learning service for six Higher Education institutions in central London, all of which are members of the University of London.
• The BLE is committed to innovating learning and teaching by sharing good practice in Technology Enhanced Learning and e-learning. 
• It supports its partners by providing cost efficiencies, which are achieved by negotiating with software suppliers and sharing economies of scale. The BLE aims to work collaboratively, developing new and exciting ways of teaching and learning that would otherwise be difficult for the partners to achieve alone (the whole being greater than the sum of its parts). www.ble.ac.uk