Are Online Exams the Future of Education Or Just a Covid Thing?

COVID-19: A jaw-dropper or the summit of digitization best assignment writers.uk, 2020? Covid might have gone from the picture but its impact is still pretty much prevalent, especially in the form of online medium of instruction. With the advancing age; online educational means are being given an extra boost and the whole pandemic episode has played an integral part in this transformation.

Students of this period can access education from the comfort of their homes. From being able to get cheap dissertation help to taking online classes; everything has been made possible for the students post-Covid. But; is it a good thing or it’s the other way around? How exam-conductions method have been transformed? Are online exams here to stay? Well! Get ready to find answers to all these questions in the following post. 

Pre-Covid, During Covid, And Post-Covid Exam Taking Methods- The Transformation

An undeniable shift has been observed in the exam conduction methods since the outbreak of Covid-19. Not only the examination approach has been transformed but even the forms of assistance have been changed. Today, online exam help is preferred over traditional tutoring classes and that is just one example. So; it’s time to analyze the dramatic transformation of examination methods in three different phases:

Pre-Covid Exam-Taking Approach

Before Covid-19; the main method of exam conduction was through in-person settings. It involved students gathering in a specific location and taking exams under the continuous supervision of the invigilators. 

The exams were taken on paper and students were required to write down their answers. Students with special needs or disabilities encountered challenges in this form of exam approach. 

During Covid Exam-Taking Approach

Nobody was ready for coronavirus but it happened and education had to be continued no matter what. The online means of education was thought to be the only solution which was implemented instantly. Online exams were conducted using video conferencing platforms which somewhat helps in monitoring students.

From digital administration of the exams to open book exam-taking approach was integrated. More flexibility in scheduling the exams was incorporated. As everything was new, so everyone was struggling to adapt; be it teachers or the students. 

Post-Covid Exam-Taking Approach

The time showed that online exams are inevitable and will increase even in non-critical situations (Gorgani & Shabani, 2021,). So; come the period of online exams post-Covid, the main approach taken during this period is the best of worlds. The key elements of pre-Covid and during-Covid methods are combined for the best outcomes.  

The nature of the course, the preference of the student, and the capabilities of the educational institute become deciding factors in whether to continue with in-person or online exams. Technology is continuously integrated into the education system for effective grading and feedback purposes. Student’s mental health is also considered to see whether or not this hybrid model of examination suits them.

The Positive And Negative Impacts of Online Exams

One thing is clear so far the online exam-taking system is here to stay. However; the future of online exams is yet to be decided after considering its impact from all sides. 

The Positive Impact of Online Exams

Nobody can deny the ease that online exams offer when it comes to accessibility. This method of education allows students to take exams from any location as long as they have an internet connection. This flexible approach has made education accessible for students from remote areas or the ones with disabilities. 

Another positive impact of online exam conduction is that it cuts down the extra expenses like transport, printing, proctoring, etc. This cost-effective solution is not only helpful for educational institutes but also eases the financial constraints of students to quite some extent. 

The large number of students taking the exam altogether is not a problem anymore; thanks to the online exam system. The massive open online courses and other such large-scale educational institutes have no strength limitations.

Online exam system has another positive impact and that is in the form of immediate feedback provision to students. This real-time and instant feedback elevates the learning process as a whole. The instant grading of questions and the automated analysis with responses not only make it easier for the teachers but also clarify to the students their areas of strength and weaknesses. 

With the advancement in technology and the adoption of online education systems, the security of online exams has also improved. Features like remote proctoring and biometric verifications have been introduced to ensure a well-supervised environment for online exam conduction. 

The Negative of Impact Online Exams:

The online exam system might be easily accessible but not all students have equal access to digital devices. Some have unstable internet connections while some lack digital devices. This forms a digital divide; taking away from the students the right to equal education. 

Technical problems are something that can come and go at any time despite the implementation of highly advanced technology. Software glitches and power outages are some of the most common forms of technical issues that directly affect the quality of online exam methods. 

Although; a lot of security measures have been introduced; academic dishonesty still prevails due to the online exam system. Students have found many ways to pass online exams without even having to put in any effort. 

Sometimes students are unable to grasp the format and question type of the online exams which results in achieving low scores despite having full knowledge of the topic. 

Another possible setback of online exam conduction is that it makes the students feel isolated due to no face-to-face interactions. 

Conclusion

Covid-19 might have been over but it has left a prevalent impact on the education system. A prominent transformation in the exam conduction can be observed in pre-COVID, during-COVID, and post-COVID era. The introduction of an online exam system has come up with multiple benefits but it has some negative side effects as well. As far as the future is concerned, then it seems like the online exam system is here to stay but most probably in a hybrid manner rather than a complete shift to an online medium. 

References

best assignment writers. uk. (2020, Oct 29th). The Age Of E-Learning. https://bestassignmentwriter.co.uk/blog/the-age-of-e-learning/.

Gorgani, H. H., & Shabani, S. (2021, Sep 28th). Online exams and the COVID-19 pandemic: a hybrid modified FMEA, QFD, and k-means approach to enhance fairness. Springer Nature, 3(10).