How to Make the Online Exam Experience Better for Higher Education
In response to a disrupted education system, due to the ongoing global health crisis, institutions have been closed, and students worldwide had to opt to distance learning mode. Although online learning is not a new concept, it has been used for quite some time now. But currently, it is the only option for all institutions to provide higher learning, most of which have emphasized the traditional classroom teaching models.
Furthermore, schools and higher educational institutes have been switching to distance learning and the online examination system as a part of an essential business continuity plan (BCP). They are doing so to ensure that institutes can continue to provide uninterrupted course schedules and program arrangements despite the difficult circumstances. While some of them have availed free teleconferencing software, others have integrated advanced LMS and various applications to provide the best classroom experience.
Despite institutes taking various measures to implement remote learning smoothly, universities and colleges have faced challenges. Especially when it comes to online assessments, examiners and instructors have faced unprecedented obstacles. Hence the institutes have been looking for tailor-made solutions to fit their requirements. They figured that they needed dependable vendors who could provide them timeless assistance apart from cutting-edge technology.
Below are some of the ways to make the online exam experience better for higher education:
Ensuring the authenticity of examination
In a traditional examination setting, institutes appoint examiners or invigilators who conduct careful surveillance. Then, during the entire examination session, they make sure that no students cheat; if they find out that someone cheated, they debar the student from continuing the examination.
But during online examinations, students can take advantage of the lack of invigilators and cheat or use other unfair practices. In addition, institutes have come across many cases wherein students are conducting proxy tests. They would often find that registered students would ask someone else to take their tests.
Hence to maintain the authenticity of the exams, institutes should opt for advanced examination software. The system should come with multiple features such as proctoring software, an automatic alert system that would send notifications if any malpractices are detected. Simultaneously, through the system’s authentication system, the registered students could only be allowed to take the test.
Easy accessibility
Despite the present generation of students being tech-savvy and knowledgeable about the newest technology, not all have a computer or laptop. Especially students who reside in the rural sector, where internet connectivity is slow or who belong from a weaker socio-economic background face more problems.
The institutes should consider all of the above factors before implementing any online exam platform. Furthermore, they should ensure that the assessments can be operated smoothly so that students can access them through different devices and operating systems.
Structuring the examination and grading system
To facilitate an efficient online examination system, institutes need to collaborate with expert educators to come up with relevant exam designs. Moreover, they also need to include different types of questions and patterns to assess how the students respond. Finally, they also need to use other metrics to determine the efficacy of the tools that the instructors are using in the learning and assessment systems.
Automated grading is an essential part of the examination system that makes the evaluation process much easier.
Compatible integration
An examination system that is implemented online should be flexible enough to integrate with varied applications and tools. Besides, it should also be user-friendly, which would enable students and teachers alike to use it without any difficulties.
