The very idea of e-Exams

Student (pre)conceptions

Abstract

This paper explores the preconceptions of students as reported via a voluntary online preimplementation survey administered in late 2013 on the topic of e-exams. The survey was conducted as part of a wider research program into the development and implementation of on campus computerised examinations using BYOD. The survey at an Australian university received just over 480 responses from undergraduate students across a wide range of discipline areas including Arts, Commerce, Engineering, Humanities and Science. Twenty-four Likert scale items on e-exams covered pedagogical suitability, fairness, security, cheating, technical reliability, keyboard proficiency, physical comfort, equipment provision and preferences for pen-on-paper or computer based testing. Two open comments on concerns and opinions were included. Data was analysed using Mann-Whitney’s U Test across programs (discipline groups), gender and by level of experience of computerised exams. The survey was conducted with the intention of uncovering pre-conceived ideas held on the part of students with regard to the idea of e-exams ahead of a planned series of e-exam trials. A range of concerns were expressed by students both for and against the idea of exams that provide the planners of e-exam approaches valuable insights into the attitudes of one of the most significant stakeholder groups.