Question

Article on online exams
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Answer 1

Answer:

• Teaching is continuously adapting to the needs and requirements of digital natives, but testing is generally conducted in the same, antiqued paper-and-pencil way. While oral exams outclass written exams from a qualitative point of view, paper-and-pencil exams have no serious advantage over online exams and even hinder the testing of student knowledge properly, particularly if it was acquired via in-class software programs. Written exams also generate large workloads, particularly in classes of hundreds of students as is often the case for mandatory courses in the initial phases of education. Furthermore, the great advantage of answer readability is assured for open-text-questions even if smaller numbers of students are involved. A “secure exam environment” (SEE) is presented in this paper which was developed in response to the circumstances noted above, as well as the financial difficulties associated with acquisition and maintenance of a large-scale computing facility. The system was inaugurated in June 2011 and students now have the possibility of taking online exams with their own devices while, at the same time, being prevented from accessing locally-stored files or non-specified Internet pages. It is also possible to integrate tools that have been used in class. By the end of May 2012 we had conducted 47 such online exams with 1075 students, and are currently able to test up to 70 students consequently. Further developments to the SEE are planned for synchronous and concurrent online testing of approximately 200 students. One aspect of this paper therefore draws on practical experiences gained through the implementation of this flexible solution for online testing at the Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (AAUK). In experimenting with the SEE we also conducted a survey among participating students which revealed their general attitudes, concerns, technical obstacles and suggestions for improvements regarding online exams. Our findings include several implications for modern online testing and successful implementation of online assessments in a university environment. This paper thus discusses the current status of online exams and associated didactic implications; outlines SEE functionalities including issues of security, safety, privacy and organizational features; and discusses our survey research results in consideration of future research directions.

Answer 2

Answer:

Online examination is conducting a test online to measure the knowledge of the participants on a given topic. In the olden days, everybody had to gather in a classroom at the same time to take an exam. With online examination students can do the exam online, in their own time, with their own device, regardless of where they live. You only need a browser and an internet connection.