Try SPARK live online

NB we cannot set up and manage SPARK accounts for other universities or organisations... However there is a demo subject set up called ASCILITE 111 with logins for instructor level and student level (see opposite).

The operation of SPARK would usually be in the context of a well-designed group learning task, with recommended steps outlined for academics and students below.

In the context of a live test it is suggested that you could first login as a student and enter self and peer assessment ratings for your fictional team and yourself. Then login as an instructor, view those results and explore the subject set up of the ASCILITE 111 subject.

UNFORTUNATELY THE DOWNLOADS ARE OUT OF DATE AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE. A NEW VERSION IS BEING DESIGNED AS OF 21.7.2006

We also suggest you join the listserv.

Link to Spark Site

Please click on the logo to open SPARK online in a new window and use the login details provided below... The same link can be used for both student and instructor login.

Student access:
Username ascii.stud
Password ascilite

Instructor access
Username ascilite.instructor
Password ascilite

NB Neither of the login fields are case sensitive

 

 

 

  

 

  

Recommended Step-by-Step process for academics ^

  1. Academic determines if group learning and assessment tasks necessary to achieve learning outcomes
  2. Academic identifies weighting for group assessment project/task and key assessment criteria for marking the group submission
  3. Academic explains how group marks are adjusted into individual marks using SPARK and method for formulating groups
  4. Academic develops assessment criteria and rating scale to be used for calculating the adjustment factor, in collaboration with students and after considering past student feedback
  5. Academics arranges for subject and student details to be entered into SPARK to enable online student access
  6. Academic monitors groups during completion of group task
  7. Academic collects and assesses group projects/tasks
  8. Academic communicates group project mark to each group
  9. Academic consults SPARK for adjustment factors and applies to group mark
  10. Academic provides each individual student with summative feedback (i.e. the adjusted individual mark)
  11. Academic may provide each individual student with formative feedback
  12. Academic evaluates effectiveness using online surveys focus groups alongside own reflection process.

 

Recommended Step-by-Step process for students

  1. Students familiarise themselves with group assessed project/task and criteria academic has set for marking it
  2. Students form groups in agreement with academic
  3. Students agree assessment criteria used for rating self and peers
  4. Each student familiarises themselves with SPARK
  5. Students, conscious of assessment criteria used in project/task and groupwork, work on group task culminating in submission of group project/task
  6. Each student reflects on group process in completing project/task and rates all members of own team including self against agreed criteria within a rating period. Review and resubmission possible until specified cutoff date and time.
  7. Each student receives mark for group project
  8. Each individual student receives adjusted individual mark as summative feedback based on SPA factor
  9. Each individual student receives adjusted formative feedback based on SAPA factor
  10. Each reflects on SPA and SAPA factor to decide how future behaviour may change to improve collaboration, interpersonal and reflection capabilities
  11. Students participate in evaluation conducted by academic