In-depth case studies of students’ use of technology to support assessment

A review of over eighty studies which purported to focus on students’ experiences of e-learning highlighted some surprising results (Sharpe et al. 2005),1 finding that few studies actually focused on the student experience. The JISC Learning Experience Project (LXP) is working with four of the HE Academy subject centres2 to explore students’ experiences of technology; with a particular interested in discipline difference in the use of technology for assessment purposes. The primary aim is to distil out subject discipline issues in using e-learning. This is being achieved by: collecting data on students’ experiences of using technology to support learning activities, describing the students’ personal background and learning context, and drawing out learner beliefs and e-learning strategies. After this initial situated exploration the focus will be turned to a wider set of issues involving learner’s experience of both learning and technology and learner’s thoughts and believes about their experiences.