The Virtual Classroom – Online Assessment Advantages and Disadvantages

Contents 1 Definition 2 Disadvantages 3 Advantages 4 References

Definition

Online assessment or Computer Assisted Assessment (CAA) is one of the most important features of online education as it saves staff and students time as well as resources.

The types of questions asked via traditional paper-based assessments and exams can also be asked via a Computer Assisted Assessment or exam. However computer-based assessment questions can incorporate multimedia elements such as images, video and sound to make the testing experience more robust than a paper counterpart (Weeden in Morgan and Spector, 2004).

Weeden (2004) lists six methods of collecting student answers in a Computer Assisted Assessment:

• selecting (multiple choice); where students select from a list of choices

• supplying; where students type in short answers and responses

• ordering/ranking; where student order or rank a list of items in a correct or preferred sequence

• matching; where students identify linkages between two lists of items

• locating; where students identify something from a larger form. For example, given a picture of a house, click on the roof

The listed assessment methods are methods used in paper-based assessments but with Computer Assisted Assessment video, audio and images can be used alongside the assessment forms.

There are both advantages and disadvantages with using online assessment in higher education. The different ways of adapting the system in the UK and the US indicate an ongoing debate of the positive and negative sides with online assessment Ryan et al (2000). The US has taken on the system rapidly while UK is moving a bit slower. Questions asked in the UK (Ryan et al, 2000, p, 126) is �?deos Computer Assisted Assessment offer a sufficiant range of assessment strategies or does it encourage the testing of superficial learning and acquisition? Are the procedures secure? Can meaningful feedback be provided?

Disadvantages

McCormack and Jones (1998) identifies these disacvantages or limitations with CAA when used online:

• implementation of CAA system can be costly and time-consuming

• construction of good objective tests requires skills and practice and so is initially time-consuming

• because of the above, testing of higher order skills is difficult

• hardware and software must be carefully monitored to avoid failure during examinations students require adequete IT skills and experiences of the assessment type

• assessors and invigilators need training in assessment design, IT skills and examination management

• a high level of organisation is required across all parties involved in assessment (academics, support, staff, computer services, administrators)

Advantages

Advocates for the online assessment models argue that it not time-consuming but rather time-saving, (McCormack and Jones 1998, Ryan et al 2000) and identify these advantages:

• time saving; as assessments can be created using software tools and adapted and reused as needed. They can be distributed and collected using a web-based system which saves development and distrubution time

• Reduces turnaround time; as the systems anables assessments to be corrected by computers. Reduces time further enables students to use the knowledge obtained from corrected assessments to adress further assessments sooner

• reduces resources needed by replacing human resources with computer resources

• keeping records of results that can be stored centrally and assessed by interested parties, such as students and staff

• increasing ease with which data can be used as corrected assignments corrected and stored electronically can be analysed easier and the data can be used in spreadsheets and other statistical packages

References

Morgan, K. Spector, J, M. (2004) The Internet Society: Advances in Learning, Commerce and Security. Wit Press Boston

Ryan, S. Scott, B. Freeman, F. Patel, D. (2000) The Virtual University, The Internet and Resource-Based Learning. Kogan Page, London

McCormac, C. Jones, D. (1998) Building a Web-based Education System, Wiley Computer Publishing, New York

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Kjetil Joa 19:00, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)