Utilizing online exams and human resources to improve student learning and minimizing academic dishonesty - Finds from large section deployment

Digital classrooms and online teaching have become pervasive throughout all levels of education. Online education in the classroom has changed the way teachers and students transfer, apply and demonstrate knowledge. This leads to the need to develop methods for online testing of students' knowledge. On-line testing presents many challenges in preventing academic dishonesty. This paper describes how online testing was utilized at a public university with large classes and lessons learned. With the growing popularity of digital textbooks and online courses, students have already or are poised to join the paradigm shift in education. When it comes to online testing some students have already made the leap. Numerous examples exist of students caught cheating on online examinations. Websites exist for students to share tips on cheating taking on-line examinations. Technical and systematic tools are available in development to minimize or eliminate academic dishonesty. An on-going debate in academia has been how far and fast to implement online examinations. This paper reviews how a large university course, already using a wiki to deliver content, successfully shifted from paper exams to all online testing. The course utilizes both technology and human resources to minimize or eliminate academic dishonesty. Some of the benefits realized in changing from paper exams to several online evaluations: • Eliminate unproductive time spent copying and grading exams • Exam metrics were available in real-time • Eliminate human error in correcting • Elimination of paper • Students receive timely feedback • The grade book is updated in real time • Metrics available to identify exceptions The benefits are substantial from balancing technology and a classroom environment to improve student examinations using on-line capabilities. Students will be expecting exams to be tested online using their own devices. Educators need to be prepared.