Exams go online as Carlow IT acts to help all students
THE Institute of Technology Carlow has decided that examinations and other face-to-face assessments scheduled to the end of the summer term will no longer take place.
Communications Officer with Carlow IT, Alma Feeley said: ‘Institute of Technology Carlow have been working to ensure that our students are not disadvantaged at the point of assessment, while preserving the academic integrity and standards of all awards. In so doing, we have been mindful of the principles and guidelines set out at a national level by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and the practices being introduced across higher education.’
Ms Feeley said the assessments will be replaced, where feasible, by alternative online assessments/ online exams. ‘The changes agreed by Academic Council are designed to enable our students to progress and complete their studies. These changes will ensure that learning outcomes are properly assessed. They will ensure that the integrity and validity of the award process is assured in an equivalent manner to any form of assessment conducted on campus.’
Students preparing to sit exams in May will be contacted over the coming fortnight by their programme board and/or relevant lecturers with details specific to each module on the relevant programme of study. The Institute will then publish a full revised schedule of alternative online assessments/online exams on, or before, April 10.
The Faculty of Lifelong Learning published its revised April examination on Monday and will contact every student with details specific to their programme. Students will receive specific details by email or via Blackboard from the relevant department, campus and faculty. They will explain the alternative online assessments, online exams, continuous assessment and should ease concerns and clarify questions.
‘Once students receive details specific to the relevant programme, students may liaise with their lecturer, Programme Director or Head of Department in relation to any difficulties. The Institute is committed to supporting students through this challenging time.’
The institutes’s staff have been supported in moving to online delivery. ‘With regard to examination results originally scheduled for release on June 14, 2020, there will be some delay but the Institute is working to minimise this delay as much as possible. At this stage, the Institute endeavours to issue results by the end of June.’
Institute of Technology Carlow intends to offer repeat assessments and exams in August.
The Institute’s library continues to provide and expand the range of services. Details on the remote library access arrangements can be found online and the Institute’s Student Services Department continue to work to support students.