Writing an online exam

I blogged about testing last spring when we were all new at on-line learning and crashing right into exams — there’s a link to the general topic of exams on the right — and here we are six months later, into midterms, students and schools have online testing all figured out, right?

Ha-ha-ha-ha!!! No, they haven’t, we haven’t, I haven’t. But we know more than we did, and over the year, I’ll be sharing information, tips, pointers from my research, campuses, students.

First, there are a lot of techniques and tips that are the same for all exams. They are easy to forget when we’re writing at home, and we are a bit more casual. So, a checklist for the basics, even though they are pretty obvious.

BEFORE THE EXAM:

Review the rules–print them out and post them somewhere in your room:

_____ Review the syllabus regarding the course, regarding exam policy for this course

_____ Review the calendar regarding exams and online exams

_____ Don’t guess–know what is considered cheating, what is considered plagiarism

Find out before each exam–print out and post in your room:

_____ Is the exam open book or closed book?

_____ What materials are you allowed and not allowed to have with you?

_____ What are you allowed and not allowed to access during the exam?

_____ What equipment will be required (webcam? Tablet? Notepad computer? specialized?)

_____ How is the exam proctored or monitored?

_____ How long do you have for the exam from the time it is posted until you must submit?

_____ Must you submit each question before you see the next question?

_____ What is the rubric for this particular exam?

_____ Is there a format you must use (.pdf, Word, .xml)

_____ How do you submit your exam? Email? Dropbox? Other?

_____ Does submission involve one or two steps?

_____ How do you confirm that your submission has been received?

Your exam room:

_____ Adequate computer connection

_____ Hardware alternative (e.g., being able to connect by phone or tablet as well as computer

_____ Ideally you will not be sharing WiFi with others who are ZOOMing or gaming

_____ Technology check, especially if you are using new software, or there has been an update

_____ Distracting clutter is out of sight

_____ Roommates and family know your exam schedule and will not interrupt you

Maintain your health hygiene:

_____ Schedule adequate sleep the night before the exam

_____ Stay hydrated 

_____ Schedule appropriate meals, breaks, and exercise

Assemble your exam kit for the exam:

_____ Pens, highlighters, scrap paper, visible timepiece

_____ Where allowed: Texts, notes, calculator, phone, tablet

_____ Beverage

All this, and you haven’t even opened the exam!

The techniques for writing online exams are very different for open and closed book, for extended and limited time allowance, for whether you can revisit questions before submitting or not. Surprisingly, the open book exam is more challenging than the closed book, Any ideas about why that might be?

Next week, we’ll look at writing what is the most challenging type of online exam for many–the time-limited, open book online exam.

In the meantime, let me know what you have learned about online testing in 2020. We’re all learning by trial and error, experimenting and sharing. How are online exams dealt with at your school or campus? [email protected]