Putting pedagogy in the driving seat with OpenComment: an open source formative assessment feedback and guidance tool for history students

The Open Comment project sits within an external demand for electronic assessment from policy makers together with the QCA and SQA (see Whitelock & Brasher 2006 and the final report to the JISC on a Roadmap for e-Assessment http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elp_assessment.html). Universities too, together with Further Education establishments, are embracing e-assessment (see Whitelock et al, 2006). There is a recognition that e-assessment accompanied by an appropriate feedback to the student is beneficial for learning (DiBattista et al, 2004; Pitcher el al., 2002; Whitelock & Raw, 2003). Distance Learning too is forging ahead with electronic delivery of courses together with addressing the complexities of e-assessment for large cohorts of students.