Post on 13-Feb-2022
Exam Formats that Work in the Online Environment
´Lisa Sharpe Elles, Chemistry´Jennifer Delgado, Physics´Carolyn Huffman, Biology
Online Testing
´ Gradescope
´ Blackboard
´ Publisher Provided
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Testing Design and Parameters
´ Increase number of tests given´Time limit per question, per test, release in
groups´Short speed questions´Allow redos´Multiple versions of test/pools´Question types
Jennifer DelgadoAssociate Teaching Professor – Physics and Astronomy
´ Classes for Fall 2020: Quest for Extraterrestrial Life (18 students), Intermediate Physics Lab (30 students), General Physics Labs 1 and 2 (~200,~300 students)
´ Low stakes quizzes´ unlimited chances through blackboard´ Closed form, simple problems, usually with math´ Two versions: Normal and Late, worth same number of points
´ Normal - due earlier in semester, fewer problems
´ Late - due at end of semester, more problems
´ Section Exams´ Fillable PDFs that students turn into gradescope within 24 hour period´ Standards based grading
´ Students must do well on all objectives to do well in course
´ Students get multiple chances to do well on each objective
´ Answers are never released (questions can be reused for the final)
Carolyn HuffmanLecturer-Undergraduate Biology
´ Class for Fall 2020: Online Human Anatomy, Online Human Physiology, each has 70 students
´ Exam format: modules last 2 weeks, test must be taken in that 2 weeks (most submit a day before or day of).´ Anatomy has body/tissue ID questions, MC questions 50 questions in 60 minutes
´ Physiology has 50 MC questions All are closed book
´ All tests have pools of questions, no students have same test
´ I have practice test with similar questions
´ Answers aren't released until after the due date, regardless of when completed
´ I will be using Proctorio Plus (McGraw-Hill) for test proctoring
Lisa Sharpe EllesAssistant Teaching Professor - Chemistry
´ Class for Fall 2020: General Chemistry I – two sections with cohorts of 45 meeting in-person once per week
´ Exam format´ Online using Gradescope, students will upload images of their handwritten work
´ Open note and textbook
´ More exams, less points, shorter time window, multiple versions?´ 5 comprehensive exams, equal weight (only 4 counted towards the grade)
´ Allow for ~1.5 hours of time to complete the 45 min exam
´ Have different versions open for different time windows and let students take the exam when they have time.
Gradescope
´Gradescope is an online software service that provides:´ Assignment delivery´ Quiz/Exam delivery´ Grading tools (rubrics, TA tracking, grouping of similar
answers, auto-grading of some question types, etc.)´ Grade statistics by question´ Integration with Blackboard
Gradescope – Pros and Cons
´ Pros´Easy to set-up and use´Seamless integration with
Bb´Grading becomes much
easier to navigate and coordinate with TAs
´Using rubrics makes grading more consistent
´ Cons´Versioning of questions
on quizzes or exams is not currently possible –possible work arounds using Bb
´ The most useful grading tool (grouping) doesn't work with most types of online assessments
https://help.gradescope.comhttps://www.gradescope.com/get_started
Fillable PDFs
´ Document is made in word´ Box outlines are added with the
"shapes" tool in the "Insert" section
´ Document is saved as a PDF
´ Opened in Adobe Acrobat (free for KU instructors) not the browser
´ Made into a fillable PDF´ "Tools" tab in Adobe
´ "Prepare Form" -> Start (check for "Form field auto detection is ON, if OFF, change to ON)
´ Can use text boxes, radio buttons, check boxes and insert image button
Blackboard Pools
This method can help to discourage cheating by overwhelming students with a large volume of questions.
Once made, pools can be combined and reused.
Blackboard has many kinds of question formats
Calculated Formula generates problems with random numbers –answer is a formula
Multiple choice has one correct answer
Multiple answer can select many options
Testing Integrity Statement/Contract
´ Syllabus language http://provost.ku.edu/memos/20090814´ Testing contract´ Test Proctoring
´ Chegg is cheating!
Other Useful Resources
´ KU flex teaching website: https://flexteaching.ku.edu´ KU IT https://howto.ku.edu´ Blackboard https://blackboard.ku.edu/resources´ Gradescope https://www.gradescope.com/get_started
´ TLC https://flexteaching.ku.edu/tlcs´ CODL https://codl.ku.edu/