The pros to online math exams are a few. Students who take an online exam may receive their scores as soon as they are done taking the exam, unless there is a written part, but there most likely won’t for a math exam. Students can easily see what questions have been or have not been answered. Students may also have an easy accessible reference sheet. Also, sometimes students lose points on standardized tests for not filling in the bubble correctly, erasing poorly, and/or selecting more than one answer. Taking a math exam online won’t make these factors an issue.
There are cons however. The students may have a hard time taking the online test because they are not use to the format. The students may have a hard time entering fractions, exponents, and negative numbers in the calculator.The students might also have a hard time figuring out how to access the formula sheet. Usually most people prefer to do their math work on a paper, and if the student is not given one they might have a harder time finishing the exam on time. For example, geometry problems should be drawn out for a clearer understanding. The students may also get anxious because as of now it is something new and not commonly used. I know that I do not like to use the computer to solve math questions, so the students might feel the same.
Overall, this is a work in progress and students should be able to practice in the same format they are being tested if they are going to be tested online.
I agree with you. I don't like to solve Math problem using a computer or take an online exam. Often times, I have to spend more time in figuring out how to put the answer into the computer in the right format than solving the problem. It takes up the limited time that students are given on an exam. They should be not punished because of that. Also, I feel like it is frustrating and makes you feel nervous if you keep seeing the timer ticking on the screen. I'm sure that many students feel the same too. Therefore, I totally agree with you that if students have to take an online exam, teachers have to prepare students for that, make sure they know how to operate the system.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate online exams. I could not even imagine what an online math exam would be like; torturous. The only good thing is receiving the score right away but I can definitely settle for waiting an extra few days and taking the test on paper. I feel like on paper a student can write their thoughts out and draw out the problem more clearly. On an online exam this is not possible. I am not for online math exams.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lot of experience taking online math exams, so I do not have a lot of wisdom here. But, your point about students having a hard time entering fractions and such I think is not a real problem. The calculator is separate from the exam and if they are having trouble entering it online won't they have trouble entering it into their own calculator? Or do you think because they are comfortable with their own calculator they would be able to use that and not the online calculator. If that was the case then wouldn't it be ok to use your own during the test instead of the one offered and if not there should be some sort of tutorial for the one offered and at the very least students should be able to ask questions if they do not understand how something functions.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who took an online exam and was given a faulty log in key. The exam "started" but she was unable to answer any questions. Instead of the professor taking this into consideration he instead told her, "Well, I drop the lowest grade so I'll just drop this F". This seems incredibly unfair and is a con, like you talked about. Online tests may be easier and useful but we shouldn't lose our humanity in administering them.
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