Online classes, on ground testing....what are your thoughts?
As a math instructor I often feel that students are not always honest in regards to their test taking. Unfortunately, I have seen students who cannot explain a concept or work through classroom examples only to earn a perfect score on an exam. I have often thought having tests taken at a testing center or certified by someone that the person is taking the test would minimize the ability to be less than honest on this assignment.
When I was taking my Masters online math courses, I was required to take my tests in front of someone who certified it was me. Do you think this would be a good idea for all online students? Do you think it would better validate online degrees to businesses who currently do not feel an online degree is as valid as a traditional one?
Karen "kam" Maiorano
Erin,
Cheating is rampant in onground course for sure. I have dealt with it for many years and have a zero tolerance policy for it. There are newer companies that focus just on this need. They provide dedicated video links where students are monitored by independent workers through live connected sessions to ensure the student is the one taking the exam and are not cheating. They require very specific procedures and valid IDs. Some institutions place the cost of this service back on the students on a per exam basis. Whether you agree with this process or not, at least it is an option.
Herbert Brown III
I agree with you, Herbert; I have moved away from examinations in my online literature courses and moved towards in-depth papers and projects that portray student understanding in a more cohesive and nuanced manner. But I'm not sure one can jettison math exams altogether. My mom took several online math courses, and she was required to get a professor to administer each exam (I did a few for her, as I teach at a university). The teacher emailed me the exam, I printed it out for my mom, made sure she didn't cheat, then signed the exam, scanned it, and emailed it back to the online instructor in the requested time frame. It was a lot of work and a huge pressure and stress on my mom, but perhaps this is the best way to ensure the student is not cheating. The issue of cheating is a critical one in online education, I think, and a major problem that will need to be addressed. (Although cheating onground is rampant as well...)
Karen,
It might help provide some validity; however, cheating is always a problem. We regularly see stories now on the news of cheating on the SAT, ACT, and rampant cheating in college (on campus) programs. Some companies are also providing services that require students to connect with a live video camera and maybe from a dedicated computer while they complete the online exam. Another way to address it is, as possible, move from traditional testing to alternative assessments such as project-based learning. Require the students to produce their own unique project that demonstrates their knowledge of the subject and their creativity. Then have them discuss it in a synchronous environment where you can ask them probing questions about "their" work.
Herbert Brown III
