An investigation regarding the Bologna process: Comparison of student assessment methods and student workload


Sen Z., Uludag G., Kavak Y., SEFEROĞLU S. S.

YUKSEKOGRETIM DERGISI, vol.6, no.2, pp.84-94, 2016 (ESCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 6 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.2399/yod.16.008
  • Journal Name: YUKSEKOGRETIM DERGISI
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.84-94
  • Keywords: Bologna process, course catalogue, educational sciences, ECTS, European Higher Education Area, Hacettepe University, higher education, student assessment methods, student workload, Turkey, workload
  • TED University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Bologna process as a reform at higher education is based on European Credit Transfer System that predicates student workload. Calculating student workload and defining student assessment methods are important issues in Bologna process. The aim of this study is comparing student workload which is effective in determining course ECTS to student tasks which affect the course assessment. Within the scope of the study, 12 masters programs with thesis at Hacettepe University Graduate School of Educational Sciences were investigated. Two compulsory and two elective courses from each program which means 48 course catalogues in total were investigated. The results of the study showed that the tasks on course assessment system tables and the tasks on student workload tables do not match up in general. Moreover, the tasks' number and contribution rate on the tables conflict with each other. It's determined that total workload of some courses calculated incorrectly and when ECTS (student workload table) calculations were being done, total workload was ignored. The research results indicate that instructors need to be provided with training on how the course catalogues are developed, in particular how student workload is calculated and how course assessment system needs to be integrated with the rest of the course packages. In the meantime, it can be claimed that investigation of the reasons in the task differences observed in the tables, which might be a result of inaccurate performance of the software used for course catalogue, are very important. Thus, it could be emphasized the fact that that the universities need to give priority to software updates.