The incentive-based evaluation mechanism developed by Chongqing RTVU’s Open Education School has become popular among students. Between December 3 and 10, 2012, more than 150 students from the university’s Open Education School exchanged their study credits for gifts. 

Chongqing RTVU’s credit management system converts the time students spend participating in teaching reform, engaging in face-to-face tutorial and discussion as well as studying online into credits. The credits are not only used as an important reference of a student’s performance as part of their formative assessment and graduation accreditation; they can also be exchanged for study supplies and daily essentials such as books and mobile phone top-up cards. 

Chongqing RTVU’s Open Education School developed its automatic credit management platform at the end of 2011, in order to meet the needs of modern distance education and information technology, encourage students to engage in self-directed learning, and improve the effectiveness of online learning. The platform integrates the learning and performance evaluation processes. It combines the quantification, conversation, ranking, and exchange of credits relating students’ study to their work, provides study incentives, and automatically delivers key teaching management data from students. From April 2012, Chongqing RTVU began to explore how it could use the system as a self-service, incentive-based evaluation mechanism, focusing on students’ self-discipline and conscientiousness.  

This credit exchange activity has served to form the basis of the exchange system and the online and offline exchange processes. Apart form the exchange of gifts, study credits are used as one of the main forms of evaluation. 30 model students were elected for the year 2012 and following the exchange activity, Chongqing RTVU held focus groups with the students to get their thoughts and suggestions on study credit management. It also issued a questionnaire on study credit for 2013. 

Related organizing parties at Chongqing RTVU commented that the study credit exchange activity will help to improve the university’s learner support system and create a lively study atmosphere. The person in charge of the activity said that in the future, Chongqing RTVU will review the achievements of the study credit management system, continue to improve the evaluation system for adult students, enhance the exam waiver system, and strive to help students adapt to distance learning methods and enhance their learning outcomes. 

By Chongqing RTVU