A Sustainable Paperless Online System (SPOS) for Engineering Quality in Teaching: Koya University as a Case Study

Salah I. Yahya; Dilan M. Rostam

doi:10.14500/aro.10052

Salah I. Yahya Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2724-5118
Dilan M. Rostam Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1187-311X

Keywords: Continuous academic development, Google Apps, online system, quality teaching, student feedback, sustainable system, teacher portfolio, teaching quality assurance.

Abstract

Rapidly advancing computer based technologies offer many possibilities for innovation in educational and administrative assessment tasks which allow for a reliable real time reporting and feedback process. This paper considers the requirements for teacher assessments to become an accurate and reliable process. As a case study, the challenges of implementing such a system at Koya University have been considered. This paper examines how a paperless online system can support faculties' efforts for improving sustainable quality in learning and up-to-date assessment techniques. The proposed sustainable paperless online system (SPOS) uses Google Applications for Education that have been adopted at Koya university as a communications and collaboration medium to enhance its teaching quality. Such a system may enhance security, transparency and ease of use while consuming less time and resources and promoting green practice. The work throughout this paper explains how the initiative is engineered for achieving and monitoring a better quality in teaching.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Salah I. Yahya, Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region.

Dr. Salah I. Yahya is an Associate Professor, joined the department of Software Engineering at Koya University in 2010. He has a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering, M.Sc. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and Ph.D. degree in Communication and Microwave Engineering. He is a Consultant at the Iraqi Engineering Union. Dr. Yahya has many scientific publications; (2) books [1] and [2], (12) Journal Articles and more than (31) conference papers. He is a senior member of the IEEE-USA and a member of AMTA-USA, SDIWC-Hong Kong. Dr. Yahya is a regular reviewer of the Electromagnetics Academy, Cambridge, USA, PIERS Journals publications, since 2009, Science and Engineering of Composite Materials journal and International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, as well as, a regular reviewer of SDIWC conferences.

Dilan M. Rostam, Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, University Park, Danielle Mitterrand Boulevard, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region.

Dr. Dilan M. Rostam is Vice President for scientific Affairs at Koya University. He has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civili Engineering/Structural design using computer application from Chalmers University in Sweden. He also has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering using virtual collaborative design from University of Nottingham, UK. Dr Rostam has long industrial experience in e.Management and applied computer in design work with several published articles. He was member of Executive Editorial of the first Kurdish Scientific eJournal ZANÍN published by Kurdish Scientists and MDs in United Kingdom (KMSF). Currently is Vice President for Scientific Affair at Koya University and a leading figure in Quality Assurance strategies in Higher Education. He is also lecturing on Kurdistan's Vernacular Architecture and sustainable green design from an Architectural and Engineering point of view.

References

Addison, W.E. and Stowell, J.R., 2012. Conducting research on student evaluations of teaching. In M.E. Kite (Ed.), Effective evaluation of teaching: A guide for faculty and administrators. Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology web site: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/evals2012/ index.php

Bunoti, S., 2010. The Quality of Higher Education in Developing Countries Needs Professional Support. [pdf] International Conference on Higher Education. Available at <http://www.intconfhighered.org/FINAL%20Sarah %20 Bunoti.pdf.> [Accessed in August 2013].

Cashin, W.E.,1995. Student ratings of teaching: The research revisited. IDEA Paper No. 32. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University, Center for Faculty Evaluation and Development.

Cashin, W.E., 1988. Student ratings of teaching: A summary of the research. IDEA paper No. 20. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University, Center for Faculty Evaluation and Development

Centra, J.A., 1993. Reflective faculty evaluation: Enhancing teaching and determining faculty effectiveness. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc.

Costin, F., Greenough, W.T. and Menges, R.J., 1971. Student ratings of college teaching: reliability, validity, and usefulness. Review of Educational Research, 41(5), pp.511-535.

Colbert, P., Wyatt-Smith, C. and Klenowski, V., 2012. A systems level approach to building sustainable assessment culture: moderation, quality task design and dependability of judgment. Policy Future in Education, 10(4), pp.387-402.

Darling-Hammond, L., 2010. The flat earth and education: How America’s commitment to equity will determine our future. New York: Teachers’ College Press.

Deane, L. and Krause, K., 2012. Towards a Learning Standards Framework. [pdf] Available at: http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/398620/Learning_Stds_Framewk_Final_Dec_2012.pdf

Dlawer, A.A., 2010. A Road Map to Quality; reforming the system of higher education and scientific research in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. A report on the main achievements from 1st Nov. to 1st Sept. 2010. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research-KRG. [online] Available at: <http://www.calameo.com/read/000407881843424cb05ed> [Accessed 03 March 2014].

Edgerton, R., Hutchings, P., & Quinlan, K. (1991). The teaching portfolio: Capturing the scholarship of teaching. Washington, DC: American Association for Higher Education.

Fabric, H., 2010. Learning Our Lesson: Review of Quality Teaching in Higher Education. [pdf] Available at: <http://www.oecd.org/edu/imhe/44058352.pdf> [Accessed 10 March 2014].

Feldman, K.A., 1997. Identifying exemplary teachers and teaching: Evidence from student ratings. In R. P. Perry & J. C. Smart (Eds), Effective teaching in higher education: Research and practice (pp.93-143). NY: Agathon Press.

Freyd, M., 1923. A graphic rating scale for teachers. Journal of Educational Research, 8(5), pp.433-439.

Google Applications for Education. [online] Available at: http://www.google.com.iq/enterprise/apps/education/ [Accessed in February 2013].

Henard, F. and Leprince-Ringuet, S., 2008. The path to quality teaching in Higher Education. Unpublished.

Kaplan, M., 1998. The teaching portfolio. CRLT Occasional, (11), pp.1-8.

Lang, J. and Bain, K., 1997. Recasting the teaching portfolio. The Teaching Professor, 11(10), pp.1-1.

Marsh, H.W., 1987. Student’s evaluations of university teaching: Research findings, methodological issues, and directions for future research. International Journal of Educational Research, 11, .pp253-388.

Marsh, H., 2007. Students’ evaluations of university teaching: Dimensionality, reliability, validity, potential biases and usefulness. In R. P. Perry & J. C. Smart (Eds.), The scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education: An evidence-based perspective (pp.319-383): Springer Netherlands.

McKeachie, W. J. and Lin, Y. G., 1979. A Note on Validity of Student Ratings of Teaching. Educational Research Quarterly, 4(3), pp.45-47.

Murphy, P., 2009. Applying a sociocultural approach to assessment theory and practice: Issues for summative and formative assessment. The Assessment Issues and Practice conference, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.

Popham, W. J., 2008. Transformative assessment. Alexandria, VA: ssociation for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Roshani, D., 2006. Integrated collaborative building design using internet technology solutions, ZANÍN, 29(1), pp.10-26.

Seldin, P., 2004. The Teaching Portfolio. (2nd ed.). Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing, Inc.

Stobart, G., 2009. Testing times: the uses and abuses of assessment. London: Taylor & Francis e-Library.

Webometrics Report. [online] Available at: http://www.webometrics.info/en/aw/iraq [Accessed in July 2014].

Wiedmer, T., 1998. Portfolios: A means for documenting professional development. Journal of Staff, Program and Organization Development, 16(1), 21-37.

Willis, J., 2010. Assessment for learning as participative pedagogy. Assessment Matters, 2, pp.65-84.

Wilson, B., 2010. What do assessments measure? Paper presented at preparing teachers for roles and challenges in assessment. International investigation conference, Faculty of Education, May 6-7. Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada.