Online Testing

Paul Goertemiller
Director, Testing Services
Tyler Junior College

Students enroll in distance education courses for a variety of reasons: family responsibilities, employment, gas prices, student living in rural areas, student in the military, or social anxiety disorder. With technology becoming easier to use and more affordable, students may choose to purchase the necessary technology and take advantage on courses taught online.

Most distance education students can access college or university student services programs by never having to visit the campus, except perhaps, when it comes time to test. Because of test security and such issues as plagiarism and cheating, testing may have to be administered in a proctored environment; either on or off campus.

Debates continue regarding different points of view on how to test the distance education student; choose to have your online students test at their free will at home OR test using proctors. Until several years ago, few instructors mailed tests to students and proctors outside the classroom. The rapid growing popularity of taking a course online develops an issue with faculty: a responsibility and need to assess the online student without visiting a classroom or an instructor’s office. Testing centers and distance education departments have adopted this responsibility.

With courses taught from a distance, issues may arise in the areas of cheating and plagiarism. Carolyn Jarmon states:

Student success measures should be tightly tied to the objectives and designed to collect the data identified as valuable in making an overall course evaluation. In the classroom situation, instructors frequently rely heavily on paper-and-pencil test (quizzes, midterms, and exams). At a distance, such test present special challenges apart from the content of the tests. (p.57)

Methods of achievement and retention such as testing, assessment, and essay writing in a proctored environment may be a way to keep our students honest and their integrity in tack.

One of the concerns is knowing that the person submitting the test is actually the person taking the test (Jarmon, C., 1999). If students live close to campus, instructors may elect the student to take tests on campus one or more times throughout the semester. For students who live far from campus, it is possible to administer a test in a proctored environment. Later in this chapter, the people, policies and technology needed to do so will be discussed in detail.

Some philosophies state that a student enrolled in a true distance education course should be able to complete all work, including tests, from their home.  Individuals argue that it is possible to evaluate a student’s work by how they communicate with the instructor.

In this case it is possible to test in a way to prevent or curtail cheating and plagiarism.
 

People

Collaboration of those involved is vital when testing online students. Issues may arise if communication does not occur between the student, instructor, and testing center. Misplaced tests, incorrect passwords, incorrect dates (tests are not available), and not having proper identification are just a few problems that can occur.

The student begins the process by enrolling in the online class. They must collaborate with their instructor to determine testing arrangements such as:

• is the test administered on paper or using a computer?

• is the test administered in a proctored or un-proctored environment?

If the instructor requires the student to test in a proctored environment, the instructors should collaborate with the testing staff to set testing dates, deadlines and make sure test security will not be breached. Questions the testing staff should ask of an instructor are:

• What is the course name and number?

• Is the test administered on paper or computer?

• What are the testing deadlines?

• What are the specific instructions? (use of calculators, notes, books, etc.)

Here is an example of an “Exam Receipt Check Sheet” to be filled out by the instructor and used to inventory tests by the testing center staff.

The testing center staff should then secure the passwords and if paper tests are used, lock them in a filing cabinet. Those employed in the testing center should be the only individuals with access to passwords and tests.

The last collaborative partnership will involve the student and the testing center. Online students need to be aware of the testing center hours and policies and procedures. If the student is taking the test at a location outside of the campus, they will have to establish a relationship with a proctor who is able to administer testing in a secure environment. Libraries, high school, or local higher education institutions are good examples of appropriate proctored settings. A “proctoring agreement form” is a good way to access all information needed by the student, instructor, testing center staff where the student is enrolled and the off-site proctor.
 

Procedures

There are several methods to administer a test to an online student. For example, testing in a proctored testing center either on a computer or a paper test, testing at an un-proctored environment, or testing in a proctored setting outside your home campus.

Let’s first take a look at the online student testing at their home campus in a proctored setting.

● The instructor will list the tests and dates on the student’s syllabus and inform the student if the test is administered on the paper and pencil format or a computer based format (cbt).

● The instructor will inform the testing center staff of the following:

▪ testing deadlines

▪ number of students enrolled in each course

▪ how the test is administered – paper or by computer

▪ any necessary passwords

▪ any special instructions (use of calculator, books, notes, etc.)

● The student visits the testing center during the testing timeframe. They present their ID (preferably college student ID or driver’s license) to a testing center staff. The student informs the staff what test they would like to take. Purses, backpacks, cell phones, etc. are locked in a locker outside the testing facility.

● If the test is on paper, the testing center staff writes the student's name on the Scantron or the test itself along with the instructor and test number. The Scantron and/or test are stamped with the time and date.

● The student tests in a proctored, quiet environment.

● When finished, the student hands the test to a staff member who places the test in a secured filing cabinet.

● If the student is taking the test offered on computer, the student or the proctor logs the student information into the computer. The proctor then uses the secure password to gain access to the test. When the student has completed the test, two copies are printed of the results page. One is for the student and the second copy is filed in the testing center.

● Depending on what testing software is used, the instructor may be able to view the results online.

With busy student schedules, the “testing center” will have to be conscious of their testing hours. Evening and weekend hours may have to be put in place to meet the needs of the online student. From research conducted by viewing twenty-five, two year institution testing center websites, twenty-two were open at least one evening until 7:00 p.m. and fifteen had Saturday hours of operation.

Another way to administer tests to online students is to test in an un-proctored environment. The instructor may elect to have the student test at home using an Internet based browser. The student simply logs on to the Internet, enters necessary passwords and begins to test. The instructor will receive the grade via the Internet.

A third testing option is for the student to test in a proctored environment outside of the home school. With this option, collaboration and communication are vital.

● Student gets permission from the instructor to test at a site other than the home college (where the student is enrolled).

● Student finds a qualified proctor in the area where they want to test (outside the home college)

● Student fills out the appropriate paperwork (proctor agreement form) from the home college and has all individuals involved (student, instructor, TC staff, and proctor) sign the form. This can all be completed using a fax machine.

● The home college contacts the outside proctor to verify phone/fax numbers, mailing and e-mail addresses.

● The test is sent by the instructor to the testing center. The testing center staff faxes, mails, or e-mails the test to the approved proctor.

● The testing center staff communicates with the outside proctor when the test is received.

● The student contacts the outside proctor to set a date and time to test.

● When the student arrives to test, the proctor checks the student’s identification and proctoring fees are collected if applicable.

● Student completes the test and turns it in to the proctor who files the test in a secure location

● The proctor photocopies the test and answer document and mails the original to the home testing center. (For certain budgetary constraints, photocopying and mailing may not be possible. Other methods of transmitting tests will have to be used).

● The home testing center receives the test, logs the test into a database or notebook and notifies the instructor.

Finding a Remote Testing Center.  The best way to identify a remote testing site for distance education is to contact a testing center at the local community college or university. Working with faculty throughout the years, I have learned that most professors and testing personnel find comfort in sending their tests to other colleges. Other potential test sites include local high schools (librarians or counselors), public libraries, professional testing sites and military bases. Overall, it should be up to the faculty member and testing center personnel to approve an off-campus testing site before sending the test.

There are several issues to keep in mind when testing off campus.

• Students may encumber a proctoring fee ranging from $15.00 to $50.00. This is an additional fee over and beyond tuition and fees paid before the semester.

• What are the hours for taking a test?. Some colleges are not open during the  evening or weekend hours when most students have the time to test. High school counselors and librarians usually leave before 5:00 in the afternoon. Generally, individuals taking off-campus tests work full time and want to test after 5:00.

• Computerized tests via the internet are protected by passwords and may require the downloading of specific software prior to the exam. Students should always call before they test to make sure the proctor has the appropriate passwords and testing software.

To locate colleges in your area who subscribe to the National College Testing Association's  standards and distance education policies, visit their website and follow  link to the Consortium of College Testing Centers at http://www.ncta-testing.org.

Technology

Technology is yet a larger component to successful administration of an online test. There are many kinds of testing software available. These software packages offer consistent test development and feature automatic grading. Blackboard, QuestionMark Perception, Respondus, and WebCT are just a few examples of testing software.

What is needed in the office and/or at home for the student?

• Testing Software

• Computer (hardware)

• Phone

• Fax machine

• Scranton reader

• Paper shredder

• Internet service

• Scanner

Resources

http://dl.tccd.net/index.php/welcome

http://www.epcc.edu/testingservices/

http://www.bucks.edu/distance/testing.htm

http://academic.yorktech.com/department/assess/makeup.htm

http://www.umuc.edu/gen/virtuniv.html

http://www.tnstate.edu/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=944

References

Jarmon, C. (1999). Teaching at a distance: A handbook for instructors. New York, N.Y. : Harcourt Brace and Co.