Systematic Mapping of Text-Based Formative Assessment Tools in Online Assignments

The current study presents a systematic mapping of text-based formative assessment tools and services used for evaluating online student assignments. Research conducted between 2012 and 2022, specifically in engineering/ICT education, is analyzed, drawing from academic databases such as IEEE Xplore, Science Direct, and Springer Link. Previous literature, mainly focused on certain tools like Turnitin for plagiarism detection and spell checking, has been found to lack evidence of user perception. To address these gaps, this paper poses two questions: mapping the landscape of these assessment tools over the studied years and understanding perception of their use in classrooms. Using a PICO strategy, the search strings made reference to specific tools like Grammarly, Copyscape, SafeAssign, and Quetext etc. A total of 38 relevant studies were selected, which revealed the increasing prevalence, especially during the pandemic period, of such tools in education. User perception has been analyzed both from a student and teacher perspective. The study further explores usage trends and perception in relation to features such as feedback, plagiarism check, grammar correction, and assessment protocols, which commonly range from qualitative to quantitative.