Open-Resource Examination: Merits of an Alternative Approach to Student Assessment

11 pages•Published: December 11, 2023

Abstract

Traditional examination methods are not always sufficient for measuring a student’s knowledge, skills, or abilities on a given subject. These traditional exams also create sufficient anxiety for the student to warrant the exploration of alternative assessment methods. Open-resource examination was explored in this longitudinal study that spans a six-year timeline in a construction finance course. The use of an online application to design, administer, and grade was considered in this study. This was accompanied with a survey of the students. Exam results as well as survey results are presented and discussed in this paper. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the results over the timeline of the study. Advantages to students include reduced exam anxiety, immediate results, and control of exam location and environment. Advantages to instructors include automated grading as well as statistical analysis of individual exam questions and aggregate performance. Additionally,both instructor and student gain valuable class-time to treat content and context of the subject. Limitations of open- resources exams are also considered. The results make a compelling case for a broader implementation of open- resource, online exams.

Keyphrases: assessment methods, Construction Education, Open-resource Exams

In: Tom Leathem, Wesley Collins and Anthony J. Perrenoud (editors). Proceedings of 59th Annual Associated Schools of Construction International Conference, vol 4, pages 223--233

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/5b3Hd
	https://doi.org/10.29007/c6df