Title: Peer assessment of language learning resources in virtual learning environments with e-rubrics

Authors: Elena Martín-Monje; Esteban Vázquez-Cano; Miguel Fernández

Addresses: Filologías Extranjeras y sus Lingüísticas, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Despacho 2, Planta 0, Senda del Rey 7 - 28040 Madrid, Spain ' Didáctica, Organización Escolar y Didácticas Especiales, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Despacho 215., C/Juan del Rosal, 14 (28040) Madrid, Spain ' Bilingual Education Program, Chicago State University, ED 215, 9501 South King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628-1598, USA

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the usefulness of e-rubrics in the peer assessment of resources and materials for foreign language teaching and also in the assessment of language skills, taking into account the work produced by 99 students of the master's degree in information and communication technologies applied to language teaching and processing, at the Spanish National University for Distance Learning (UNED), during the academic years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. Following a methodological framework based on virtual, collaborative action-research, a qualitative analysis is applied with a twofold approach: firstly, through the use of text frequency techniques and secondly, through a reticular, category-based social network analysis thanks to UCINET and yED Graph Editor. Results indicate that the use of e-rubrics optimises self-assessment and the adequacy of assessment criteria. Rubrics foster usefulness in terms of format and connectivity in the audio-visual elements included in digital online resources. Furthermore, e-rubrics are deemed as significantly effective indicators of progress in oral and written production in foreign language learning.

Keywords: e-rubrics; peer assessment; online discussion forums; foreign languages; digital resources; learning management systems; LMS; e-learning; higher education; distance learning; language learning resources; virtual learning environments; VLEs; electronic learning; online learning; ICT; Spain; collaborative action research; electronic rubrics; text frequency; social network analysis; SNA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2014.069018

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2014 Vol.6 No.4, pp.321 - 342

Received: 04 Mar 2014
Accepted: 30 Oct 2014
Published online: 24 Apr 2015 *

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