Virtual Learning Environments: Linking participation to evaluation

This paper considers the role of online multiple choice revision quizzes within the Virtual Learning Environment as a means of improving learning outcomes. A quiz was offered to 1st year undergraduates. Results were analysed to consider whether student participation improved performance. The analysis reveals little or no direct association between exam performance and participation, both at the mean and throughout the performance distribution, suggesting that the benefits from participation in on-line revision aids are not large. The use of such material needs to be made available judiciously since it may encourage displacement activity and provide little material benefit to the student.