Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Online Homework and Testing System

As a TA and graduate student in the department of chemistry I have had the opportunity to work with our online homework and testing system JExam. This a system that has been built and developed here at UGA. Many other such systems exist, but what makes our system unique is its ability to administer both homework and tests. Most of the systems that are out there today do only one or the other.

These types of systems open up a wide variety of research opportunities for operators. Our system monitors a wide variety of things ranging from right and wrong answers to the specific response patterns on specific questions. This allows us to easily evaluate the effectiveness of individual questions, whole homework assignments, and whole tests in a few short minutes, and all of these evaluations are backed by a large amount of statistical data.

As with any form of technology there are always bugs. JExam has had an interesting and complex history with past programmers, and currently we working to improve the bugs that still exist in the system. We are also working to incorporate learning theories, such as cognitive load theory, into the system to make it a more effective learning tool for students.

What are your thoughts and theories about online homework and testing systems?
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2 comments:

  1. Sherry Clouser, Ed.D.February 21, 2010 at 2:16 PM

    Derek, you mention that there are always bugs in technology. Can you give some examples and how the instructional team handles those bugs when they arise?

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  2. Quest to quench...February 21, 2010 at 6:27 PM

    I am interested to know more about the system itself. I have heard about "turn it in" which checks for plagiarism, but thats all I know about such technology. I'd be really interested to hear about the functionality of those systems others use.. and then maybe the bugs and possible solutions....

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