Whole Network Most Recent TOP10 Associate Degrees Bachelors Degrees Doctorate Degrees

 

Open Book Exams in Online Classes

Filed in archive Issues in Online Education by Jamie Littlefield on April 25, 2008

Open Book Exams in Online Classes
© Baston

One major problem in online learning is the issue of testing. Without direct supervision, it is impossible to guarantee that a student is not cheating. Some online colleges solve this problem by requiring students to test under the direction of a proctor such as a librarian or other official. However, this method is often inconvenient and is not always effective (as we've seen when academically challenged college football stars get straight As in their online coursework, but fail their traditional classes). One option is open book testing.

Online professors can create timed, open book tests that are challenging and still require knowledge of the material to complete. There's no possibility of cheating, because students are allowed to use their study material. When open book exams are used, students should be be taught test-taking strategies so that everyone is on an equal playing field. A new study published in the Journal of Online Interactive Learning explains:
"This study investigated the impact of training in open book test-taking strategies on student test performance in online, timed, unproctored, open book tests. When the tutorial was required immediately before the midterm examination, the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group. The effect size or magnitude of the difference in means was moderate. When the tutorial was completed immediately before the midterm examination but was not completed before the final examination, the experimental group's mean final examination score was higher than the control group's score, but the difference was not significant."
I'm a fan of open book testing because these exams mimic real-life work. Teachers are allowed to use dictionaries, doctors are allowed to use medial books, and lawyers are allowed to look up past case files. Rarely are employees asked to complete a task and not permitted to use reference material.


Advertisement


Permalink: Open Book Exams in Online Classes
Tags: online  classes  reference  open  book  exams  testing    programs  open+book 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/121436



Advertisement


Advertisement


CW ToolbarInstall
RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter
Advertisement - Book yours here.
OnlineUniversities

Use our search feature to look for other interesting posts

Just this blog Whole network
Advertisement -
Book yours here..


 
Advertisement
Book yours here.



  • Testimonials

  • "Thank you for helping me decide to give online learning a try."

    "Great article! It really helped to get an overview. Thanks!"

    "Excellent post. I totally agree that it is the content and presentation skills of the educator that will make or break an online learning event, not the technology."
  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network

Advertisement -
Book yours here..






Advertisement - Book yours here..
OnlineUniversities
 
Tagcloud: Accounting Prog. Accreditation Admissions Armed Forces Art Programs Articles of note... Associate Degrees Bachelors Degrees Blogging Business Programs Certificate Programs Choosing a School Communication Communications Programs Continuing Edu Criminal Justice Programs Culinary Arts Design Programs Developments Doctorate Degrees Economics Programs Edublogs Education Programs Engineering Programs Financing Education Finding the right university Free Classes Funding your education Health Care and Human Services Programs Helpful Tools Hotel and Hospitality Management Information Technology Education Intellectual Copyright Interviews Issues in Online Education Law and Legal Courses Online Management Programs Marketing Programs Masters Degrees MBA programs New Graduates News Online Degrees Online Education Jobs Online High Schools Online University Reviews Problems in Online Education Products Research Reviews Scams Sponsored Post Sponsored Posts Students Study Skills Studying in the U.S. Online Teaching Online Technology Testimonials Thoughts Triumphs Vocational Programs