Testing Services for Online Students

1
Testing Services for On-line Students

• How are other colleges universities with DL
  programs handling assessment?

2
Survey of Assessment Practices

• 28 colleges and universities responded to our
  request for information
• Most schools have substantial on-line learner
  populations
• WICHE listserv
• Eduprise affiliated schools
• Direct email

3
Summary of Survey Results

• A majority of schools assess on-line student
  learning through paper/pencil tests in proctored
  settings.
• Some schools require that students make
  appointment for proctored testing.
• Trend is toward alternative assessment methods.

4
Findings

• Generally, selection of assessment method is left
  to faculty members.
• Some schools have policies that require proctored
  mid-term and final exams.
• Most course assessments that constitute a major
  portion of the students grade are delivered in a
  proctored environment.
• At some schools, students must sign an academic
  honesty agreement.

5
Findings

• Some exams are delivered on-line, but these must
  be proctored.
• Some schools have formal agreements with other
  colleges, libraries, commercial test centers,
  etc.
• Students must locate a proctor and pay fees of
  20-60 per test.

6
Findings

• Most campus-based testing centers do not charge
  their own students.
• To avoid congestion, some schools have students
  register for specific test times.
• Schools with extensive experience in on-line
  learning are moving to alternative testing
  models, where students are assessed on a mix of
  assignments and activities, rather than objective
  tests.

7
Alternative Assessment Models

• Faculty require and give credit to drafts, to
  discourage cheating and plagiarism.
• Faculty comfortable with take home or open book
  exams use these strategies in their e-learning
  sections.
• In some courses, students work in teams on major
  projects, which are graded.

8
Alternative Assessment Models

• Alternative assessment may not be feasible for
  all courses and subject matter.
• Faculty using alternative assessment may spend
  more time designing assessment strategies and may
  time evaluating student work.

9
Diversified Assessment as Primary Practice

• Washington Online Virtual Campus
• Indiana Higher Ed Telecom. System
• Georgia State U.
• University of Illinois
• University of Phoenix

10
Institutions Using Primarily Proctored Exams

• University of Maine system
• University of Utah
• Colorado State U.
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Pace University
• Weber State U.
• Northern Va. CC

• Florida State U.
• Illinois On-line Network
• University of Maryland Univ. Coll.
• Oakton CC
• University System of Georgia Ind. Study
• City Colleges of Chicago