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Strategies for creating online exams

 

The steady rise of technology has led to the digitization of service delivery and offerings across all sectors, forcing them to move to the online space. This evolution has not left the education sector behind.

Universities, colleges, schools, and other training institutions have moved ahead and implemented a learning management system, where software creates, administers, tracks, and documents the courses.

This article outlines basic online exams strategies for effective e-learning exam dispensation. This method of teaching and evaluation promotes a streamlined approach towards knowledge dispensation and easy and accurate grading of learners. Read on for more.

What is an online examination?

Also referred to as e-examination, online exams are the process of examining with the help of the internet and related devices to remotely located learners. Usually, most online examinations feature answer processing modules to allow instructors to provide instant results.

Mostly, online exams candidates are required to complete the test in a pre-determined timeframe, and the test window expires when the test is over, and the school gets the exam reports immediately.

Online exams can be conducted in exam centers or at home. However, it is more helpful in remote learning where students and learners are allowed to attend the test from their personal devices at their convenience. This relieves them of the expenses of moving to and from the exam centers.

Common benefits of implementing online exam system.

Giving out tests online has proved to be helpful since the advent of technology. It has, however, gained popularity with the emergence of covid-19 regarding the social distancing rules put in place to curb its spread.

Here are the most notable benefits of conducting online exams:

1.      Reduced stress.

The adoption of online exams platforms has removed the challenges of setting tests centers, hence cutting down on resource requirements in terms of costs, time, and the need for human invigilators, leading to a speedy examination process.

In higher learning and training institutions, online exams go a long way to ease screening and admission processes using limited resources. Instant reports and feedback on the student's performance allow administrators to automatically grade everyone based on the results.

2.      Convenience.

Online examinations have enabled the education system to break the geographical barriers that have potentially hindered testing and evaluation for a long time. It has enabled exams to reach a wider audience and promote high participation.

Global monitoring and assessment systems guide education sector stakeholders on how they can seamlessly conduct exams. With only a stable internet connection and internet-enabled devices, the process of conducting exams provides a significant reach and accessibility to online exams.

3.     Can support multiple questions.

Generally, e-examinations consist of different question types such as fill-in-the-spaces, checkboxes, yes/no, MCQs, longs answers that need teachers' attention for evaluation, case studies, coding simulators, etc.

Having an online exam system allows you to create a pool of application and knowledge-based questions to enable you to curate a sheet with multiple questions.

4.      Elaborate skill and question library.

An ingenious e-examination platform features an exhaustive store of skills and sub-skills mapped carefully to relevant questions. Based on these features, examiners can pick a relevant competency they would like to test and design the questionnaire from it. This reduces the examiners’ time of creating the questions manually.

5.      Very scalable.

E-examination platforms serve a wide range of audiences and can easily cater for high-volume content. And because of this feature, schools and training institutions having scarcity of time can find it more convenient to offer tests with less wastage.

Only having a computer-enabled device with a webcam and stable internet connectivity is enough to make the test successful.

Authentic and practical online exams strategies to create online tests.

Taking an online test can be equally frustrating to both teachers and students, especially if it is your first time sitting for one.

Therefore, it is vital as a tutor to arm yourself with effective online exams strategies to help you conduct a successful re-examination and prepare the students well. Below are practical tips to help you achieve this.

a.      Stick to common online exams strategies as genuinely as possible.

This is one of the most important online testing approaches you need to know. Regardless of the exam-taking method you redeem suitable for you and your students, ensure it is embedded in your teaching yearly.

Familiarize your online exams strategies to the students earlier enough and instruct them to use these strategies on all the tests and assessments they are given.

In case you come about online exams in the middle of the learning calendar, do not worry; you can implement and test them straight away and choose the ones students find comfortable.

After testing in the middle of the year, you can go ahead and begin the following year with the strategies that are workable for you.

b.      Include computer-based learning in your normal lessons.

During normal lessons, ensure you include computer practice either as a unit or a teaching method. If you do this correctly, you'll be adding strength and quality to the technology, and students will face nothing new.

Here are a few examples of what is meant above:

ü  Google classroom math center. This is one of the common math centers you can use to get learners to answer pre-designed response math questions via Google math classroom. Such a feature incorporates computer practice with the math tests students are given.

ü  Another method of having a computer practice together with standard instructions is by leveraging online assessment platforms to get learners to respond to text-dependent questions through the platform. These online assessments enable teachers to create the test and just key in the questions. The students then log into the platform, answers the questions, and submit them to relevant bodies.

 

c.       Allow different skills and opportunities to practice with the same format.

While, in some sense, this goes together with the first strategy above, it is more important to discuss it independently. Usually, some teachers assume that when learners are in front of a computer reading an article or doing a math program, they are effectively prepared for an online exam.

And while this is also helpful in a way, it is crucial to offer the opportunities in the same way as an online test. This will make the learners more prepared. The bottom line is to have the teaching format is depict the same thing they will see during online exams to avoid any confusion and boost their confidence.

Significant suggestions involve using Google classrooms and other online assessment platforms to create a similar format as e-exams.

d.      Implement computer-guided reading and math to use online exams strategies authentically.

Another great way to integrate computer-based practice in standard instruction is by applying guided math and guided reading. With chrome books or a set of tablets or smartphones, you have everything to use in guided reading seamlessly.

The gadgets will enable you to access Google classroom and get texts with questions or get learners to read blog posts on sites such as Newsela.

It is extremely important to take some time doing guided reading, which basically teaches learners how they can read texts online. You guide students for some time and let them practice on their own to apply what they have learned.

e.       Reduce cheating opportunities as much as possible.

Online exams are very prone to cheating than physical examination systems. Therefore, ensure any you cover all the cheating loopholes as much as possible. You can achieve this by taking the following actions.

ü  Use an encryption system or password to protect the test and limit it to two attempts.

ü  Make the learners accept honesty statement before starting taking the test. You can do this virtually through video or make the first question of the test.

ü  Start and stop access to the exams within a pre-stipulated timeframe.

ü  Create an item bank to get random questions from. You can achieve this by adding many platforms such as MyLab and other learning management systems.

ü  Require the students to explain and justify their answers by including an open response section after every question.

Conclusion.

As most learning activities move to online space, parents and education stakeholders consider creating and adapting to online test-taking. Usually, by providing practical e-exams, you need to know and understand various tools to ensure exam integrity.

To effectively deliver online test-taking, you need to be equipped with basic online exams strategies discussed in this post. First, stick to a common strategy yearly, use computer-aided learning in the standard instructions sessions, and include computer-guided reading and math skills.

Finally, allow different skills and talents to practice with the same format as online examinations and ensure the test is secured as much as possible to avoid cheating.