The world has seen a dramatic shift in how education is imparted and received. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions across the globe have had to move their operations online to ensure the safety of students and staff.
It also resulted in a new set of challenges for everyone involved in the education sector. One such challenge is administering online exams. Not only do online exams present logistical difficulties, but they also come with several academic challenges.
It is undeniable that online exams have become a popular assessment method in recent years. However, there are still many challenges associated with them.
In this article, we will discuss some of the difficulties related to online exams and ways to overcome them.
These are some challenges associated with online exams:
Table of Contents
1. Cheating:
One of the biggest challenges associated with online exams is cheating. It is effortless for students to cheat on online exams as they can copy and paste answers from the internet or get help from friends or relatives. Hence, it is important to set strict rules and regulations for online exams to prevent such activities.
Administrators can also use software to prevent cheating. For example, any leading proctoring software can monitor students during online exams.
The Proctorio chrome extension can also help record students during online exams and flag any suspicious behavior.
2. Technical Issues:
Another challenge associated with online exams is technical issues. Online exams can face disruption by technical problems such as power outages, internet connection issues, and computer crashes. And it is crucial to have a backup plan in place.
For example, students should be able to take the exam on a different computer if their primary computer crashes to avoid these problems.
However, technical issues can sometimes be unavoidable. In these cases, it is vital to have a plan for how to deal with them. For example, students should get extra time to complete the exam if there are technical problems.
3. Time Management:
Another challenge associated with online exams is time management. It can be difficult for students to manage their time effectively when taking an online exam. It is because they can get distracted by things like social media, email, and other websites.
It is essential to provide them with a precise time limit for the exam to help students manage their time effectively.
It is also important to periodically remind students of the time limit during the exam. For example, a timer can be displayed on the screen to countdown the remaining time.
4. Distractions:
As mentioned earlier, distractions can be a big problem for students taking online exams. It is crucial to provide them with a quiet and distraction-free environment to help students focus on the exam. And this means no social media, email, or other websites.
Also, students should be encouraged to take breaks every 20 minutes to avoid burnout.
5. Stress:
Another challenge associated with online exams is stress. It is because online exams can be very demanding and challenging.
It is essential to provide them with a study guide to help students cope with the stress of an online exam. The study guide should include all the information covered on the exam.
It is also essential to give students plenty of time to study for the exam. Students cannot prepare everything in a short period.
6. Security:
Another challenge associated with online exams is security. Online exams can be hacked or leaked, which can lead to cheating. It is essential to use a secure exam platform to prevent this.
Besides using a secure exam platform, administrators can also take other measures to prevent cheating. For example, they can require students to use a webcam or proctoring software.
7. Motivation:
Yet another challenge facing online exams is student motivation. It is because it can be easy for students to get discouraged when taking an online exam. It is essential to provide them with positive feedback to help students stay motivated.
For example, administrators can send students encouraging messages after they complete an exam. Also, students should have a chance to review their exams to see what they did well and what they need to improve.
8. Accessibility:
Another challenge associated with online exams is accessibility. It is because not all students have equal access to technology.
Some students may not have a computer or an internet connection, while others may have a disability that makes it difficult to use a computer.
It is essential to provide students with alternative ways to take the exam to make online exams more accessible. For example, students can have the option to take the exam on paper or in an audio format.
9. Tolerance for Error:
Another challenge associated with online exams is tolerance for error. It is because online exams are often very demanding and challenging. As a result, students may make mistakes. It is essential to provide them with a grace period to help students cope with this.
It means that students will not be penalized for their first few mistakes. However, after the grace period, students will be expected to answer the questions correctly.
10. Grading:
One final challenge associated with online exams is grading. It is because it can be difficult to grade an online exam. For example, it can be hard to tell if a student copied and pasted their answers from another source.
It is essential to use a grading rubric to grade an online exam. The grading rubric should be clear and concise. It should also be fair and objective.
Bottom Line:
Taking an online exam can be a challenge. However, there are several ways to overcome these challenges. By using a secure exam platform, providing students with a study guide, and giving them plenty of time to prepare for the exam, you can help students succeed. And by using a grading rubric, you can ensure that the exam is graded fairly. So, don’t let the challenges of online exams stop you from giving them a try!
