Online Testing at Thomas Edison State College

Transcription

1 Online Testing at Thomas Edison State College Walking the line between security and convenience 2013 Users Conference Baltimore March 3 rd 6 th

2 Who are our students? Thomas Edison State College is one of New Jersey s 12 senior public institutions of higher learning and one of the oldest schools in the country designed specifically for adults. We have 20,650 students spread all over the world. The average age is about 35 years old. We are a partnering institution of the GoArmyEd and NAVY College programs. About 45% of our student population is affiliated with the military as active duty personnel, military spouses or veterans. Slide 2

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4 The importance of exam security Thomas Edison State College offers a variety of creditearning options: Our 12-week distance learning courses require a midterm and/or a final exam. A new term begins every month. Emphasis on exam security to ensure that the student who completes the assignments and online discussions is the same individual who completes the examinations. Stand alone testing program (TECEP) allows students to earn 3 or 6 college credits by testing out of a subject. All of our exams are administered by a third party proctor with no affiliation with the College or the student. Slide 4

5 Making the move from paper exams to online exams Contractual obligations with the military. Faster turnaround needed for course grades Hurry up and wait. Uneven delivery times for mailed exams Circuitous route of military mail If the course is online, why does the exam require a hand written response? The keyboard trumps the pen when it comes to essay responses Lack of time to travel to remote test centers. Adult learners have more work, family and community obligations Slide 5

6 Online Testing - Take 1 Decision was made to move to online testing before the correct tool was in place. Modified some assessments to unproctored exams Minimized the weight of the exams and increased the use of projects and final papers Utilized the honor system Convenient? Yes Secure? Not so much Technical problems? Many more than expected Slide 6

7 Online Testing - Take 2 Vendor #1 Offered physical test sites that could enforce security Long travel time for some students Higher proctoring cost Vendor #2 Proctored remotely via web cam but no audio hookup Communication with student limited to pop-up windows Complicated administrative procedure for downloading exams Vendor #3 Technical assistance combined with remote proctoring Ability to converse with students and identify problematic behaviors and testing infractions as they happen Slide 7

8 What works for Thomas Edison Flexibility for students Adult learners are more savvy consumers. They expect superior customer service and are not afraid to ask for it. Not all students are comfortable with technology and fewer have time to learn it. ProctorU provides in-depth assistance for technical issues TESC now provides weekend assistance so students do not feel isolated Ability to stay competitive The National Center for Educational Statistics forecasts a significant increase in college enrollments of 25 to 34-yearolds over the next seven years Slide 8

9 Implications for other institutions Oldest trick in the book. Cheating remains major concern Online testing is not for everyone. Taking an essay online is very different from figuring out a math equation Security and privacy a deterrent for some students How will MOOCs change the game? As the prevalence of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, gain momentum, the American Council on Education has announced a new project that would determine whether these MOOCs should be eligible for college credit. Slide 9

10 Ensuring Academic Integrity with Online Proctoring 2013 Users Conference Baltimore March 3 rd 6 th

11 Is Cheating Really a Problem? 75% of students admit to cheating on tests, homework and assignments. 50% of teens cheated on a test in Students feel it is easier to cheat in an online class. Only 29% of people think copying from the web is serious cheating. 1 in 3 students admits to having used the internet to plagiarize an assignment. Slide 11

12 Five Surefire Ways to Prevent Cheating Testing Design Strategies Set Clear Standards Make Testing Parameters Clear Make Tests Available Within a Specific Time Limit Implement Proper Proctoring Slide 12

13 What is Online Proctoring? 1. Make sure you can see the student. 2. Observe their environment and ensure that you can see what they are doing. 3. Authenticate their identity to be sure you have the correct person. Slide 13

14 How does it work? Online proctoring should replicate the classroom. Observe students face-to-face with twoway videoconferencing and screen-sharing connections. Offer free technical support before and during exam sessions. Focus on cheating prevention rather than punishment. Slide 14

15 Authenticating the Student ProctorU uses a multi-layered approach. Proctors check a government-issued ID, take a photo of the test taker and administer identity challenge questions. The identity challenge questions are based on public record and are similar to methods used in the banking and healthcare industries. Slide 15

16 Does Online Proctoring Work? ProctorU currently works with over 250 institutions, including the University of Florida, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. ProctorU has been covered by the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Wall Street Journal and PBS. Incident rates are less than 1%. Slide 16