Hi Rachel,
Following your post, I had a look at BKSB (http://www.bksb.co.uk/Home.aspx ) – I'd never heard of them before. Their site suggests they are useful at school/ college
level but you seem to find them useful at HE level too. I, too, would be interested in hearing more – either online or offline as appropriate.
Best wishes,
Isabelle
Isabelle Pottinger
Effective Learning Adviser
Information Services
Cameron Smail Library
Gait 12
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
+44 (0)131 451 3062
Effective Learning Service:
http://www.hw.ac.uk/library/effective-learning-service.html
Power Hours Workshops:
http://isguides.hw.ac.uk/powerhours
LearnHigher: http://www.learnhigher.ac.uk/
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Davis, Rachel C
Sent: 21 August 2013 09:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: software packages for diagnostic assessment of writing
Hi Karen, We use the BKSB online tool kit. We originally purchased it for use with veterinary nurses and our WP cohorts (who come in with lower grades) but are finding it useful with a much wider audience (including
staff). This year we also purchased their ESOL and IT plug-ins – I think they also have a learning preferences plug-in too.
Happy to tell you more off-list if you are interested
Rachel
Dr Rachel Davis
Learning Development Manager
Royal Veterinary College
London
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Karen Fiona Smith
Sent: 16 August 2013 10:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: software packages for diagnostic assessment of writing
Dear fellow Learning Developers,
Here at UCLan we have been asked to explore the options for on-line automated formative / diagnostic assessment tools for academic writing and possibly numeracy too. This is in order to quickly identify students who may struggle with expressing
themselves through their writing.
I’ve stumbled upon an American software package called Criterion which looks quite promising. I have yet to discover how much it costs! Is there anyone on the network who already uses such software? Is anyone aware of anything more oriented
to British English/ UK HE contexts?
Thanks in advance,
Karen Smith
Lecturer in TESOL/Academic Development
School of Language, Literature & International Studies
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
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