As USF continues with online instruction, you will likely need to create and administer an online exam. This email describes a few options.
Resources for Canvas Exams
Here are some resources about exams from the Canvas Guides:
- Setting up an exam: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10152-415241475
- Creating a question: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-12725-415243384
- Full list of Canvas documentation for exams: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10460-canvas-instructor-guide-table-of-contents#jive_content_id_Quizzes
Ensuring Academic Integrity
Admittedly, it’s more difficult to ensure academic integrity for online exams, but you can take steps in the design of the exam to promote integrity. Consider the following:
- Shuffle Answer Choices – This rearranges answer choices for each student. (You may have to reword “All of the Above” to “All Answer Choices.”)
- Shuffle the Order of Questions – Contact DAT for help with this. You can create different versions of the same question, and Canvas will randomly select a different question for each student. Or, simply use this feature to present all of the same questions in a different order for each student.
- Set a Time Limit – Limit the amount of time students have on the exam so they won’t have time to look up answers.
- Use Open/Due/Close Dates – Restrict availability of exam to a few days to prevent information sharing. You could even limit availability to the class period (as long as all students have an opportunity).
- Show One Question at a Time and Prevent Backward Navigation – This prevents students from going back and changing their answers. (However, students with slow internet connection may lose time if there is a lag between each question.)
- Require an Access Code – In order to begin the exam, students will need to enter a code you provide.
- Delay Exam Review – Wait to release correct answers until all students have completed the exam.
- User Higher-Level Questions – If possible, use short answer or problem-based questions instead of multiple choice. These questions require an original and unique response from each student and more difficult to copy. (However, be cautious of changing expectations on the exam. If lectures and course content have focused on the “understanding” and “comprehension” level, students will be unprepared for application-level questions on the exam.)
Edited by Glen Gummess, Ed.D., May 3, 2022
Lirim Neziroski, Ph.D., MBA
Dean of Teaching & Learning Outcomes
LNeziroski@stfrancis.edu
(815) 740-5099