Online Exams During Midterm Season
Words by Fabliha Hussain
Cover photo by Julia M Cameron from Pexels
With online classes and “Zoom University” during the COVID-19 pandemic, students and professors alike face another hurdle–conducting exams remotely. The switch from in-person schooling to remote schooling has affected students in various ways, potentially exacerbating inequalities. It has brought about new learning barriers, as many may not be in environments that are conducive to learning. There may be new distractions and sources of stress caused by the pandemic, on top of difficulties they were already dealing with prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students have a lot more to manage now with remote schooling. Online exams pose issues of cheating scandals and technical problems. Professors will often claim to understand that these are unprecedented times but will then proceed to assign an overwhelming amount of work, not truly understanding the extent to which students are struggling. In fact, many professors are being unforgiving in the face of technical issues and exam administration.
Blackboard has become a staple, along with Zoom, for exam administration. We all know, however, that Blackboard is extremely unreliable. Additionally, many students do not have stable Internet connection or access to the Internet for extended periods of time. When Blackboard shuts down during an exam, the exam automatically submits whether or not the student has answered one question or all of them. Student requests to professors for a second try at the exam or extended time are sometimes rejected. Technological issues are a major roadblock for students and the lack of understanding from professors further prevents students from learning in the same way that they used to.
Understandably, the greater chances of cheating caused by online classes present a worry for professors. Online school can potentially make it easier for students to cheat with resources such as Quizlet and Chegg easily accessible to them, away from the professor’s gaze. Students may also work together by messaging or using other social media applications without the knowledge of professors. To combat cheating, professors create many new requirements and features that add pressure on students. They will often have students turn cameras on during exams, disallow students to backtrack during exams, and create impossibly challenging unsearchable questions. In the process of protecting their own class averages and keeping students from taking advantage of them, professors are making online classes even more difficult than need be. Many students are failing exams that are even supposedly “open book.”
Although cheating can provide an easy way out for students and the pressure to do so is understandable given these challenging times, studying for exams is the best method. There is no guarantee that exams will be simple enough for cheating to be an option. In addition to questions of the ethics of cheating, relying on it may not even be practical and get you the score you desire. Learning can be difficult with online classes and studying for exams is a way to enforce that learning to retain the information. Otherwise, taking classes becomes a waste of time. Getting good grades, however, is what most students prioritize over meaningful learning. Students will sacrifice learning for good grades if professors make the class increasingly more difficult. Ensuring that students get the most out of their classes requires more understanding on the part of professors.
Performing well on virtual midterms requires students to stay on top of their coursework. With the overwhelming amount of work professors are assigning, this is not an easy feat. People who are taking many high-level classes may struggle and in fact, sometimes students end up having to sacrifice their grades in one class to do well in their other classes. Attending Zoom classes, watching recordings, and taking notes are methods to help students stay on top of their work so that studying for exams becomes easier. Creating study sessions with other students in the class and seeking tutoring that is offered by the college can also aid in performing well and making concepts stick. Moreover, creating a space for yourself that is reserved for doing schoolwork and taking exams can be a good idea. This will prevent family members from interrupting you and gives you your own personal space to simulate a school-like environment. In addition, checking to make sure your Internet connection is stable and platforms such as Blackboard are working well on your laptop are good steps to take as well. Unfortunately, technical issues cannot be predicted nor avoided. While these are steps worth taking, not everyone has access to a private space reserved for studying or stable Internet connection. Ensuring that these students are cared for requires professors to 1) create spaces for students to openly communicate their concerns and 2) make accommodations based on their students’ concerns.
Professors themselves also have technical difficulties such as poor audio, slides that are difficult to view, or disconnection from the call. Many professors will have trouble navigating features of Zoom calls, often taking up class time. For these reasons, professors should be more lenient and understanding towards students. They are not the ones taking exams, studying for multiple classes, and balancing schoolwork with home life in addition to other harms caused by the pandemic. On the other hand, students should also be considerate towards professors and respect their expectations for their classes. Professors and students are both figuring out remote learning for the first time. We must all be understanding of one another and engage in open communication so that we can create the best learning environment for everyone.
