Evaluating Student Performance on Computer-Based versus Handwritten Exams: Evidence from a Field Experiment in the Classroom

ABSTRACTThe use of course-management software such as Blackboard, Moodle, and Canvas has become ubiquitous at all levels of education in the United States. A potentially useful feature of these products is the ability for instructors to administer assessments including quizzes and tests that are flexible, easy to customize, and quick and efficient to grade. Although computer-based assessments offer clear advantages, instructors might be concerned about their effect on student performance. This article evaluates whether student performance differs between handwritten and computer-based exams through a randomized field experiment conducted in a research methods course. Overall, our findings suggest a significant improvement in student performance on computer-based exams that is driven primarily by the relative ease of producing thorough responses on the computer versus by hand.

A Design Theory for Vigilant Online Learning Systems

There is now a preponderance of evidence suggesting that the types of online course management software (OCMS) used in purely online undergraduate college courses, do not meet the needs of younger immature students. These students often lack the learning skills necessary to succeed in such courses, nor do the popular OCMS include the vigilance mechanisms to guide such students to successful course completion in the absence of face-to-face human instruction. This paper explores the literature relevant to design theory, learning theory, decision support, and vigilance, to extend information systems design theory to a design theory of vigilant online learning systems. It is hoped that this research note will help guide software developers and academics studying how to design future online learning systems for the immature student.

A Design Theory for Vigilant Online Learning Systems

There is now a preponderance of evidence suggesting that the types of online course management software (OCMS) used in purely online undergraduate college courses, do not meet the needs of younger immature students. These students often lack the learning skills necessary to succeed in such courses, nor do the popular OCMS include the vigilance mechanisms to guide such students to successful course completion in the absence of face-to-face human instruction. This paper explores the literature relevant to design theory, learning theory, decision support, and vigilance, to extend information systems design theory to a design theory of vigilant online learning systems. It is hoped that this research note will help guide software developers and academics studying how to design future online learning systems for the immature student.

Remote Access and Course Management Software

In addition to electronic reserves, instructors can link database materials through course management systems (CMS). This type of software allows faculty to link articles from databases into their course materials. This chapter provides an overview of different course management software and explains how instructors or librarians can link course materials into these systems.

Higher Education's Use of Course Management Software

This chapter explains what course management systems (CMS) are, lists the features of the most popular CMS, describes the advantages and disadvantages of CMS, reviews the literature on the effectiveness of learning with CMS communication tools, and discusses the future of CMS. It discusses how CMS have become an important means of computer mediated communication in higher education. CMS are not only used for distance education courses, but for traditional courses as well. Increasingly, many teaching faculty are integrating CMS to enhance communication in the traditional class making it a hybrid course. CMS provide instructors the ability to enable various modes of communication to simulate the same experience as a real classroom. The author hopes that this chapter will provide information about what CMS can do now, and what they will perceivably do in the future.