Student experience of online exams in professional programs : current issues and future trends

This chapter discusses the value of invigilated versus noninvigilated online exam testing environments, assessing the current and emerging issues and trends in online exams from the student perspective. The convenience and flexibility of online exams have led to a surge in popularity among academics despite concerns over academic integrity. This chapter explores the experiential differences between academic disciplines in the impact of online exams. Through focus group interviews and survey data, this study investigates student perspectives on online exams in two professional disciplines with different assessment regimes. Students appreciated the convenience of online exams, but online invigilation"”especially with external invigilators"”is associated with invasion of privacy and numerous technical challenges. The lack of contact with classmates and familiar school staff often adds to student stress. Where possible, assessments should be administered in a fashion that avoids or reduces the need for invigilation.