The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Online and in-person exams both have problems – that's now clear. Unis have a window of opportunity to do better

  • Written by Christopher Charles Deneen, Associate Professor & Enterprise Research Fellow in Education Futures, University of South Australia
Online and in-person exams both have problems – that's now clear. Unis have a window of opportunity to do better

The pandemic pushed universities to launch or accelerate plans for delivering examinations online. These forced transitions have often been painful, involving stress and burnout[1]. Exams have been a big pain point.

There are many accounts from the pandemic of widespread cheating in online exams. These range from the amusing[2] to the depressing[3]. Regardless, cheating creates problems for everyone involved.

Read more: Unis are using artificial intelligence to keep students sitting exams honest. But this creates its own problems[4]

We do need to understand students’ achievements to effectively determine, plan and support student learning. Assessment is meant to inform this understanding.

Exams are high-stakes opportunities for generating big “chunks” of evidence of student achievement. Cheating invalidates this evidence, which has a knock-on at individual, course and program levels.

Academic program reviews, for example, are often guided by analyses of that year’s exam results. Exam data help staff make changes to the program. If a significant percentage of exam scores result from cheating, this can lead to misjudgments about the curriculum and missteps in designing future exams.

What happened during the pandemic?

It’s understandable, then, why many universities have embraced remote proctoring[5]. This involves the use of artificial intelligence software to identify and monitor students during exams. The value proposition of remote proctoring is that it easily allows us to replicate virtually the security of an in-person, seated, invigilated exam, wherever our students may be. It seemed like a solution custom-made for the pandemic.

There is some evidence of remote proctoring working as intended[6]. However, we must also consider emerging concerns.

Many students have been hostile to what they see as inappropriate surveillance practices[7]. There are concerns about universities’ uncritical accusations of cheating[8] in “flagged” cases generated by monitoring software.

On the faculty side, it’s becoming clear that remote proctoring does not necessarily lead to less work[9] for staff. It may even increase exam-related workload.

Read more: ANU will invigilate exams using remote software, and many students are unhappy[10]

Working in educational assessment for two decades has taught me that cheating on exams is a serious, complex issue. It defies easy solutions[11].

Remote proctoring will likely continue to have a role to play[12]. It’s essential, however, that we define that role critically and carefully[13].

So why not go back to the old ways?

With enrolments growing and in-person teaching resuming, it’s tempting to return to familiar exam practices. Bringing back traditional examinations, however, invites back other well-documented, chronic problems[14].

Orchestrating mass, in-person exams presents a huge challenge. Assuring relevance of traditional exams to modern competencies is also problematic.

It’s worth asking ourselves: how satisfied were we really with pre-pandemic exam practices?

Invigilator walks among students sitting an exam
Traditional in-person inviligated exams are anything but perfect. Shutterstock

Out of the many ways we engage learners in higher education, assessment is typically the slowest area to change. As exams are high-stakes, it is unsurprising that exams are quite change-resistant[15].

We are therefore presented with an unusual and timely opportunity. Right now, there is a strong push for systemic improvement of learning, including better assessment[16].

Read more: COVID has changed students' needs and expectations. How do universities respond?[17]

Let me suggest two connected ways forward on better exam practices. These are not axiomatic instructions. Instead, these are some resource-supported ways to open dialogues within institutions and teaching teams for exploring sensible solutions for them and their students.

Make scholarly decisions

Scholarship informs our disciplines. It must also inform assessment within our disciplines.

Scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)[18] in higher education is not new. In my experience, SoTL or SoLT has often de-emphasised or failed to include assessment, as the popular forms of the acronym suggest.

Increasingly, we need to embrace SoLTA[19], that is, scholarship that includes and promotes evidence- and research-supported assessment practices. Embracing SoLTA involves becoming deeply familiar with the best research in assessment and examination practices in higher education and disciplinary contexts. This includes informing practice through consulting highly reputable journals like Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education[20].

As with our disciplines, we should see ourselves not just as consumers of knowledge but creators, too. This presents an opportunity for universities to support teachers in applying scholarship to teaching[21], including teaching-focused academics.

Read more: What is the point of assessment in higher education anyway?[22]

Don’t reject exams, make them better

Exploring alternatives to exams is sound general advice, but doing so isn’t always feasible. Programs often have rational imperatives for keeping exams in place, including expectations of external accrediting bodies. In these cases, it’s better to seek improvement[23], rather than alternatives, to exams.

One route to improvement is adopting good open-book exam practices[24]. For exams with multiple-choice questions, there are solid guidelines for enhancing these[25]. There are even approaches allowing multiple-choice questions to elicit cognitively complex responses[26].

Two key problems I have found in online exam practices are students using search engines to look up answers, and collusion. One way to resolve the first issue is adopting case-based approaches[27] that use novel material generated specifically for the exam.

Collusion is a tougher nut to crack, but some people are adopting new approaches to doing so. These include running exams divided into sections[28], with collaboration an anticipated and welcome part of the process.

Read more: Online learning has changed the way students work — we need to change definitions of ‘cheating’ too[29]

Business as usual isn’t good enough

Changing assessment is challenging. Higher stakes mean bigger challenges and greater resistance. As universities find their post-pandemic footing, we have a window of opportunity in which we know we must change.

This allows us to answer the question: what’s next for exams? Clinging to new and hastily adopted practices provides an unsatisfying answer. A return to business as usual is no better.

Instead, let’s adopt a scholarship-informed approach to developing our exams and ourselves to better meet an uncertain and challenging post-pandemic future.

References

  1. ^ involving stress and burnout (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ the amusing (crumplab.com)
  3. ^ the depressing (www.npr.org)
  4. ^ Unis are using artificial intelligence to keep students sitting exams honest. But this creates its own problems (theconversation.com)
  5. ^ remote proctoring (www.autoproctor.co)
  6. ^ working as intended (www.sciencedirect.com)
  7. ^ inappropriate surveillance practices (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ accusations of cheating (www.nytimes.com)
  9. ^ not necessarily lead to less work (theconversation.com)
  10. ^ ANU will invigilate exams using remote software, and many students are unhappy (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ defies easy solutions (library.oapen.org)
  12. ^ likely continue to have a role to play (www.youtube.com)
  13. ^ define that role critically and carefully (www.slideshare.net)
  14. ^ well-documented, chronic problems (ie-today.co.uk)
  15. ^ exams are quite change-resistant (www.researchgate.net)
  16. ^ including better assessment (www.timeshighereducation.com)
  17. ^ COVID has changed students' needs and expectations. How do universities respond? (theconversation.com)
  18. ^ Scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) (www.vu.edu.au)
  19. ^ SoLTA (u.osu.edu)
  20. ^ Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education (www.tandfonline.com)
  21. ^ support teachers in applying scholarship to teaching (lo.unisa.edu.au)
  22. ^ What is the point of assessment in higher education anyway? (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ better to seek improvement (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ good open-book exam practices (melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au)
  25. ^ solid guidelines for enhancing these (melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au)
  26. ^ elicit cognitively complex responses (cft.vanderbilt.edu)
  27. ^ adopting case-based approaches (le.unimelb.edu.au)
  28. ^ running exams divided into sections (aall.org.au)
  29. ^ Online learning has changed the way students work — we need to change definitions of ‘cheating’ too (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/online-and-in-person-exams-both-have-problems-thats-now-clear-unis-have-a-window-of-opportunity-to-do-better-184320

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Tricia Paoluccio designer to the stars

The Case for Nuturing Creativity in the Classroom, and in our Lives I am an actress and an artist who has had the privilege of sharing my work across many countries, touring my ...

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...