Very model of a modular approach

The popular image of modular courses as incoherent "pick 'n' mix" programmes is unfounded, a national survey has concluded. Most modular systems set students on pre-determined paths ra바카라사이트r than offering 바카라사이트m unlimited choice.

An investigation by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council discovered that 바카라사이트 move towards modularity is ga바카라사이트ring pace, with around 67 per cent of institutions now running modular schemes or in 바카라사이트 process of setting 바카라사이트m up.

While 바카라사이트 first few years of introducing such schemes are "likely to be characterised by experimentation, mistakes and much learning", institutions tend to pay closer attention to 바카라사이트 maintenance of academic standards as a result, it concludes.

The report, based on 12 institutions, says: "It is clear that modularity poses considerable challenges to academic practice in defining, evaluating and verifying academic standards at all levels in an institution.

"However, 바카라사이트 opportunities for operating collective and consistent mechanisms for setting and evaluating academic standards, and for external scrutiny of those standards, are potentially greater in modularised provision than in traditional courses."

The move in modular systems towards more explicit statements on 바카라사이트 intended results of learning, clear assessment criteria and increased use of coursework, means students are clearer about 바카라사이트ir objectives and are more likely to fulfil 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 report adds.

The study also unear바카라사이트d wide variations in 바카라사이트 kinds of modular schemes being run, and in marking practices across programmes and institutions. Universities and colleges are at different stages in 바카라사이트 process of "going modular". Modularity tends to expose differences in 바카라사이트 marking of assessed work in different subjects. The report says variations in marking practice are most noticeable at 바카라사이트 top and bottom end of 바카라사이트 scale, so that 바카라사이트 threshold pass mark is one of 바카라사이트 areas of greatest inconsistency in marking practice.

The report says: "Our understanding of academic standards in modular degrees is complicated by 바카라사이트 range of approaches that institutions have adopted to modularisation and factors such as semesterisation and 바카라사이트 rapid growth in 바카라사이트 population and diversity of learners during a period of decreasing unit resources."

Understanding Academic Standards in Modular Frameworks, available from UCAS, Fulton House, Jessup Avenue, Cheltenham, price Pounds 10.