Testing and Evaluation in Distance Learning
Distance education has long had trouble with testing. The delivery of testing materials is fairly straightforward, which makes sure it is available to the student and he or she can read it at their leisure. The problem arises when the student is required to complete assignments and testing. Online courses have had difficulty controlling cheating in quizzes, tests, or examinations because of the lack of teacher control. In a classroom situation a teacher can monitor students and visually uphold a level of integrity consistent with an institution's reputation. However, with distance education the student can be removed from supervision completely. Some schools address integrity issues concerning testing by requiring students to take examinations in a controlled setting. More here
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Distance learning has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, such kind of learning is comparatively cheap, convenient and requires less time. There are different types of available technologies used in distance education, which make it exciting and pleasant (e.g. telephone
videoconferencing, web conferencing, audiocassettes, E-mail messages, board forums print materials,
voice mail, etc…)
But on the other hand, we know that distance learning lacks supervision and control. Students can easily cheat, invent new tricky methods of passing exams in order to receive a desired certificate. Unfortunately, distance learning is believed to be fraudulent. Besides, such kind of learning lacks direct communication. However, nowadays people use modern technologies in various spheres of life including education. Moreover, it’s well-known that distance learning is now quickly developing and today there’re even on-line Universities which are quite accessible for everyone, who is eager to study.
But the question remains: What should be done in order to make distance learning more effective?
You are right. Distance learning indeed has advantages as well as disadvantages. But as you see, the topic I've chosen is connected mainly with testing and evaluating.
Dear Anna,
I can't agree with you that '... such kind of learning lacks direct communication.'
Just this kind of communication is absolutely direct. You can communicate with people, solving different problems online, using video and audio connection. It becomes more accessable than telephone connection nowadays. I don't mean mobile connection.
Thanks again for the nice discussion.
Nina, I like your point of view. I think your comments are relevant and rather useful. And I really agree that distance learning is very convenient and interesting kind of learning. Moreover, it has been proved that distance learning sometimes can be even more effective. Now we can always learn things whenever we want to. So I'm sure you've chosen a nice topic, Irene.
Dear participants of the annual conference! I’m pleased to hear so many different points of view.
But I would like to say one more thing. It’s obvious that in several years such things as a computer, the Internet and webcameras, will be a usual daily thing for everyone. Even now there’s hardly a person, who doesn’t have at least a computer. But saying about indirect communication through distance learning (especially Elearning) I meant the place of a computer in this process. As the computer plays a big role in such a kind of learning: Learner – Computer – Teacher…
Still I believe that Elearning or any other kind of distance learning remains second-rate, additional. Yes, I agree that it helps as an additional resource of getting new information, gaining more knowledge, but I would never change traditional studying at the University for distance learning or studying at the on-line University… The idea of getting on-line diploma is not very attractive :)))).
Thus, let’s combine the best sides of both kinds of learning (Elearning +traditional) and will get productive studying.
Best wishes,
Anna Maranchuk
Ann, your point of view is clear and it has right to exist. But we don't convince anyone that this kind of learning should be the main one. You may stick to traditional studying if you want to, but there are a lot of people who find distance learning rather convenient and useful. It's up to everyone to choose how he or she wants to learn things.
Ann, I can't understand your point of view. As far as I know your article is also connected with the topic of distance learning and you seem to be interested in it. Then why do you object to it and say that it is second-rate and not useful?? I just think that distance learning can be main as well as additional and it helps to open new opportunities in learning.
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