Delivering online exams using Moodle Tim Hunt, Mahmoud Kassaei Presented at Moodlemoot Edinburgh 2014 www.moodlemoot.ie

1. Delivering online exams using Moodle
Tim Hunt & Mahmoud Kassaei
Moodlemoot Edinburgh 2014

2. Outline
1. Introduction
2. How it works
3. Summary

3. The goal

4. Exams at the OU
• 91,739 exams
• for 400 modules
• at 289 centres around the UK/world
• with 2,576 invigilators
• all on paper (except students with special circumstances)
Data from 2012

6. From the student’s point of view

7. Step 1: Get invite
MDL101 exam on 15th April 2014: using a computer
I am writing to offer you the opportunity of taking your above examination on a
computer rather than handwriting your examination.
Why are we doing this?
Many students have told us that typing is easier than handwriting and would prefer
this method of answering examination questions. We have therefore decided to pilot
the use of computers with a small group of students during the October 2013
examination period.
What will completing an examination using a computer be like?
The computer-based examination will be in the same format as the written
examination which will be sat by the rest of the students on the module. …
…
If you would like to volunteer to take part in this pilot and sit the computer

8. Step 2: Download browser

9. Step 3: Try the demo exam

10. Step 4: Opt in for online exam

11. Step 5: Get to exam hall

12. Step 6: Start when told to

13. Step 7: Answer questions

14. Step 8: Submit and finish

15. Summary

16. Recap: Moodle add-ons
• Custom theme
• Single activity course format Moodle 2.6
https://moodle.org/plugins/view.php?plugin=format_singleactivity
• Quiz auto-save Moodle 2.5
https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-38538
• Safe Exam Browser quiz access
https://moodle.org/plugins/view.php?plugin=quizaccess_safeexambrowser
• Add ‘exam’ type to our course generator script

17. Separate
Moodle
install

18. Student comments
This was much easier than the handwritten exam. The ability
to edit answers made for a calmer experience, leaving more
time to think of coherant answers (hopefully!)
Much better. I used the answer book for notes + preparation
but it was much better to then be able to quickly type
everything out. Saved time + less stressful!
I was so anxious about having to write with a pen for 3 hours.
I haven’t really handwritten anything much since school
over 15 years ago. I’m much more familiar with computers.
Q14 not complete  Found it easier to concentrate on the
exam for three hours than I have in any handwritten exam
– great to go back and re-format answers or even switch
between answers without concerns of running out of space.

19. Options for typed exams
Online ↔ Offline
Student laptops ↔ Institutional computers
Exam hall ↔ Online invigilation
Lock-down ↔ Open book
Thanks to: Paul Johnson & colleagues Exams & Assessment
Phil Butcher Learning & Teaching Solutions
David Baines & colleagues Information Technology