Learning to use Crowdmark
What is Crowdmark?
Crowdmark is a cloud-based system to help teachers and assessment teams handle the logistical challenges of paper-based grading on a mass scale. Graders can access students’ papers digitally from any device; at the same time, the system allows students to submit hand-written work. Because it makes grading collaborative, Crowdmark supports instructors in making grading more manageable. Students are able to view their scores, as well as any annotations made in the grading process.
This link takes you to a student guide created by the Crowdmark platform. It includes some helpful troubleshooting information.
Will it cost me anything?
No! McMaster has a license for the service and it is used by many instructors.
How do I access Crowdmark and sign in?
Go to the link below and log in using your McMaster email and password. You can either sign in with Avenue to Learn or with your email. Play around to see which option works best for you. You may need to click Authorize to give Crowdmark access to your account. You should be able to access the LIFESCI 2L03 course listed.
https://app.crowdmark.com/sign-in/mcmaster
How does it work?
Each electronic lab notebook (ELN) and tutorial case study (CS) you complete will have it’s own Crowdmark assessment. The assessment is created to match the questions embedded within the Pressbook or shared with you by the tutorial TA during the case study. As you work through an activity, there will be questions that require you to either respond in text, or upload an image/PDF file. Text responses are entered directly into the Crowdmark interface by typing. Image/PDF files can be in PDF, PNG, or JPG/JPEG format and are uploaded directly to the question within the Crowdmark assessment. Learn how to convert aspects of a Word or Excel document to image or PDF properly – one of the introductory lectures demonstrates how to create high quality figures using Microsoft PowerPoint!
Crowdmark assessments are a bit different than the Avenue to Learn file uploads or quizzes you’re more comfortable with – Crowdmark will send an email to your MacID when your assessment is available for completion. Similarly, you’ll receive an email when your Crowdmark assessment has been reviewed by the TA. It will take a bit of getting used to using this new platform, unless you’ve already used it in another course. This is why the ELN completed during the Intro Skills Lab in week 2 is not assessed formally – it will give you the chance to work with the platform for the first time and be sure you understand how to add group mates in advance of the first assessed ELN in week 3.
Are ELNs and CSs individual submissions?
These submissions will be completed most frequently in pairs or groups of four. One of the features of Crowdmark is that it allows you to add your group mates so you can all collaborate on the same Crowdmark submission page together before one person presses the submit button. If you’ve missed a lab/tutorial and are going to complete a make-up, this may be completed individually or in a group, depending on how many other students are also completing that particular missed assessment.
How are these assessments graded?
Your corresponding lab or tutorial TA will be responsible for grading your ELNs or CSs. These assessments are graded as pass fail, but if they have left feedback comments, you’ll be able to view these directly through Crowdmark when complete. The pass/fail grades will then be transferred to the Avenue to Learn gradebook for keeping all of your performance summarized in one location.
Is there any lab/tutorial preparation I should be doing?
Yes! You should read over the lab outline in advance of every lab. This will help you be prepared to complete the lab activities and the ELN in the 3 hour time period. It will also ensure you are SAFE in the laboratory. Throughout this semester you’ll work with chemical hazards, biological hazards, and even live organisms. If you come to the laboratory room unprepared, you will likely find yourself slowing down your group during the lab activities, and may be quite confused or overwhelmed by the scope of some of the activities you will be completing. The TA will always begin the lab session with an overview presentation, but this will not be the same as reading the protocols in advance. Most lab notebooks will have a set of pre-lab questions that ask you to briefly summarize the lab protocols, purpose, and important safety precautions. You can do this question BEFORE entering the lab if you choose – this will save you a little bit of time at the beginning of lab compared to other students who will have to spend 15 minutes quickly reading through the activity before they can get started with the hands-on portions.
The tutorial case studies will be a little different – we’ll share the topic with you in advance (this is found in the module cover page each week) but we won’t be providing the case study materials in the Pressbook – they are meant to be investigated and explored during the 1 hour tutorial. If you have an accessibility requirement as a part of your SAS accommodations, we will be able to provide you with a copy of the material in advance using an Avenue to Learn content folder.
(Note: Tutorial case study content is NOT testable – you won’t need to go back to it for studying for the lab skills test at the end of the semester).
When is everything due?
ELNs are due at the end of lab. They’ll be released to you in advance in case you want to read over them and answer the first couple of questions.
CSs are due at the end of tutorial. They’ll be released to you the morning of your tutorial, but the questions won’t make much sense until you arrive at tutorial and participate in the case study with your classmates and TA.
If you don’t attend a lab or tutorial, you should refer to the Policies on Submitting Work, Absences and Missed Work page for accommodation information, should you choose to submit an MSAF. As a reminder, you are permitted to miss one lab and one tutorial without impact to your overall course performance – additional absences can be accommodated with the use of an MSAF, but are not necessary for all letter grades.
Can I apply my SAS accommodations?
Yes! If you have an accommodation with Student Accessibility Services that allows for additional time to complete assessments, you can contact the Instructional Assistant at ls2l03@mcmaster.ca at the beginning of term to discuss your needs. Please do note that these assessments are typically group/pair assessments, so if you are requesting additional time for completing them, you’ll want to explain this to your group members/partner. The SAS accommodations for extra time for tests/exams will be applied, since these are short assessment durations that take place within class time, rather than the SAS accommodations for extensions on lab reports/assignments.
What if something goes wrong?
Sometimes, we will encounter technology issues during class time. Wi-fi outages, MS365 authentication errors, and power failures can all wreak a bit of havoc on a homework assessment being completed during class time. Communication with the TA is essential – allowances will be made for reasonable, uncontrollable technology issues, equipment breakdown, etc. The goal of this course is to create rewarding lab experiences for all students. Stress might be part of the process, but it should never be overwhelming.
