eExam symposium: Design decisions and implementation experience

• Main Authors: Fluck, A, Palsson, H, Coleman, M, Hillier, M, Schneider, D, Frankl, G, Uolia, K
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: . 2017
• Subjects: Education; Specialist Studies in Education; Educational Technology and Computing; Iceland
• Online Access: http://transformingexams.com/files/Fluck_etal_2017_eExam_Symposium_at_IFIP_TC3_WCCE_Ireland.pdf; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/128537

Increasingly, student learning is online or computer-mediated.Keyboards and screens are replacing pens and books. This is just as true inschools as in universities. These educational institutions are sociallyconservative, especially with respect to high-stakes assessments that credentialthe awards they make. Gradually, computer-based assessments are beingtrialled, in a multitude of forms. This symposium brought together a diversegroup of such trials from Iceland to Australia. Geographically diverse, theyrepresent a variety of approaches to eExams. Some use institutional equipmentin dedicated spaces on campus. Others allow candidates to use their owncomputer, either under a security blanket or by booting from an alternative tothe internal hard-drive. Each of these technological approaches has differentsets of educational affordances. We are still evaluating the benefits and barriersfor these different approaches. Some institutions value the time saved forteaching staff through automated marking. Others look at the entire assessmentreticulation process, from examination composition to return of marks tocandidates. Yet another group look at the potential for curriculumtransformation arising from computer use at the assessment stage. Participantsshared their design decisions and practical implementation experiences. Goingforward, we may see commonality emerging that will make eExamsconvenient, reliable and educationally beneficial.