From vocational certification to conventional schooling, all forms of education need measurable assessments for measuring learning outcomes. These assessments are beneficial for evaluating the training and education processes across different levels.
The purpose of well-designed assessments is to focus on specific areas to encourage learners to perform better in the future.
Evaluators relied on conventional and approach-based tests before the digital era.
However, with technology and the internet seeping into different areas of life, AI tools and computing gadgets are now taking over education.
This is why the age of innovative computer-assisted assessments has now arrived. Unlike pen-and-paper testing, computer-based tests are not based on resource-intensive evaluation.
On the other hand, these tests are technologically advanced. That means they eliminate the need for rudimentary testing materials and equipment. For instance, examination halls and centers, seating arrangements, logistics, and remember, the printing of examination papers.
There are several ways to conduct assessments via digital tools. So, let’s find out about the different ways technology is benefiting the current examination system.
Online Exams
Instructors can create, deliver, and grade exams online using online exam platforms. These digital tools allow schools and educational institutions to design various types of tests. These tests can include multiple-choice and essay questions. With time restrictions and instant feedback, instructors can evaluate how they can conduct exams.
Auto-Grading
Another noteworthy advancement is the use of auto-grading. It refers to a process that brings many benefits to both students and educators. The approach is specifically practical for multiple-choice and true/false questions, where the system automatically evaluates scores according to predefined correct answers.
Auto-grading plays a crucial role in checking true/false and multiple-choice questions. These question types can be evaluated automatically because they have well-defined and precise answers. Instructors can ensure that the exam platform accurately evaluates each student’s responses by entering the appropriate responses.
The turnaround time for delivering results is significantly reduced, thanks to this automation. It also eliminates the need for manual grading.
However, only some exam questions have a single correct answer. Short answers and subjective essay questions call for a more complex assessment.
Rubrics for grading are helpful in this situation. In this method, the criteria for awarding scores to various aspects of the response are outlined in the grading rubrics created by instructors.
This system allows all students to be graded fairly and consistently, even in subjective evaluations.
One of the most significant advantages of auto-grading is the capacity to provide students with immediate feedback. After submitting their exam, students can receive immediate performance feedback.
This function is beneficial for formative and summative. Real-time assessment of students’ strengths and weaknesses allows them to concentrate on areas that require development. This feedback loop improves learning by enabling students to internalize concepts and participate in active self-evaluation.
Secure Browsers
E-learning is becoming more and more popular in the educational world. Still, many questions exist about ensuring its effectiveness in reducing cheating during exams. However, a wide range of online proctoring tools are now available to help identify fraudulent behavior.
One of them is the lockdown browser. Students can’t use other applications, browsers, or desktop features while the software monitors the examinee’s on-screen activities. That prevents students from engaging in any fraudulent methods of scoring in exams.
Biometric Authentication
To confirm a student’s identity, biometric authentication tools use unique physical or behavioral characteristics. For example, these methods may include fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. Before the exam, students would provide a biometric sample to authenticate their identity.
Anti-Cheating Resources
These tools employ several methods to prevent cheating, including plagiarism detection algorithms that compare submitted responses to previously published content. Analyzing typing patterns allows one to identify sudden shifts in style that may indicate the use of unreported assistance.
Remote Proctoring
With the evolving technology, methods for maintaining the integrity of the examination process are also changing. Remote proctoring is a cutting-edge solution for addressing cheating concerns and ensuring a fair assessment environment.
Automated Proctoring
Automated proctoring monitors students’ behavior during the exam by using webcams and microphones on their computers. The system uses sophisticated algorithms to recognize suspicious behaviors, such as looking away from the screen or having multiple people in the room.
The system sends a warning for the instructor’s review if there are any irregularities. Although automated proctoring is less intrusive than live proctoring, it still provides a level of surveillance that aids in maintaining the integrity of the exam.
Live Proctoring
Higher-stakes exams that require the highest level of security and oversight typically can benefit from live proctoring. A live proctor monitors students remotely and in real-time using this strategy. Exam rules compliance is ensured by the proctor and students’ ability to communicate via the exam platform.
Exams, entrance tests, and other assessments requiring the highest level of security benefit most from live proctoring.
The Advantages of Exam Administration Technology
There are many advantages to using technology to administer exams, which can significantly improve the exam-taking experience for students and teachers.
Thanks to technology, several steps in the exam process are automated, including registration, distribution, and grading. Teachers will have to do less administrative work, allowing them to spend more time on instruction and curriculum development.
Planning online tests can accommodate students in different time zones. This adaptability enables students to take exams at times that are most convenient for their schedules, improving the balance between work and life.
Instant feedback improves student comprehension and learning, leading to a more effective learning environment. To address concerns about exam integrity, remote proctoring—whether automated or live—ensures that exams are administered fairly and securely.
Final Thoughts
As education technology evolves, these approaches will become even more sophisticated. That will offer educators and students practical tools for conducting and participating in exams.
Now you know there are several ways to administer tests other than conventional methods. Technology academic institutes should utilize these methods to leverage the latest technologies for conducting fair examinations, across all different levels.
