Online education has become the new normal. It is an easy way to attain higher certifications. The online education has enabled education to be more accessible and flexible. The candidates can get easy access to study materials along with up-skilling at their convenience.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) is an advanced online platform enabling virtual classrooms. The online education comprises live and recorded classes, case studies, assignments, internal assessments and exams on concluding each semester. The candidates are required to fulfill all requirements and effectively pass the final examination. The online degree exams take place virtually, enabling candidates to attend their exams remotely. The candidates enroll in online degree programs for several reasons, such as universities or colleges do not provide their degree of choice, offline degrees are more expensive and they prosper in self-learning and student-centric learning modes.
Yet innovation is required in the arena of online student evaluation. The challenges are being faced while conducting examinations in online mode. Virtual environments specifically are not appropriate for traditional examinations. The innovative online assessment methods can assist educators to evaluate skills, creativity and comprehension more vigorously and individually.
Is it feasible to give Online Degree Exams from Home?
The online degree exams work in case there is accessibility and inclusion. The candidates in remote areas, working professionals and those with disabilities can get fair access. The online degree exams in India even save travel, accommodation and exam centre costs. When it comes to universities, exams can be conducted for thousands at once. The evaluation also becomes faster precisely in the case of MCQs, programming and case-based tests.
The academic integrity becomes a major concern as there are higher risk of cheating through second screens, AI tools and more. It impacts the value of the degree. If the internet is not stable, then it also becomes a problem. The power back up, stable internet and camera quality are not same in case of all students. Here rural and economically weaker section becomes disadvantaged. Another issues associated are privacy and surveillance. The ethical and legal concerns are faced due to consistent webcam, room scans and eye tracking. The candidates feel like suspects, not learners.
How Online Degree Exams are conducted
Nowadays, several universities are offering professional degree courses in an online mode. Such degree courses are high-level courses and therefore online examinations for such courses require being efficient and void of any kind of loopholes, such as cheating.
In the online university exam system, a candidate has to sit in front of a computer and attempt the examination. The answers are submitted to the questions appearing on the computer screen with the assistance of the keyboard and mouse. Each system is linked to a server that prepares the question paper and sends it to the students. The candidates are required to log in through their credentials and initiate their examination. The candidates are required to follow the time limit along with the instructions.
In order to prevent cheating or unfair practices, the university’s online exam guidelines include Proctor software. Proctor Software enables Artificial Intelligence to detect and avert cheating. The online exams are conducted in two ways for the online exams.
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Online exam at Home
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Online exam at the Examination Centre
In the online examination at the examination centre pattern, the university conducts the exam at several exam centres and appoints invigilators to monitor the examination. Such authorities are liable for the verification of students, their registration and also for the smooth and competent functioning of the exam process.
In the online exam at home process, the students are verified online either through student credentials, email ID provided by the university or OTP process. To avert cheating, the candidates are provided a list of rules that they are required to follow to undertake the online exam from home. The proctor software alike human invigilators, supervises the candidates attempting the examination. There are various online platforms and software that are used by the universities to conduct online examinations for their online degree courses. The online exam process for online degrees has been stated as:
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Registration of students
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Maintaining the registration details of the candidates
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Creating the admit card or hall ticket
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Planning the test timings along with test slots as per the virtual examination room
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Student verification prior to entering the virtual exam room
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Conducting the examination
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Result assessment
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Online Assessment methods in India for Online Degree Programs
The Online assessment methods undertake a structured and regulated examination framework to make sure fairness, integrity and academic veracity. The online degree programs enable technology to offer a safe and proficient assessment procedure for candidates. The universities carry out examinations through several platforms and use features like timed appraisals, remote proctoring and automated grading frameworks. Such an inventive approach improves accessibility along with retaining academic reliability, enabling candidates to accomplish their degrees flexibly.
The online exam procedures for students are quite simple and initiate with the exam schedule being sent to candidates and conclude with the results.
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Exam schedule: The students receive an email or SMS notification concerning the examination schedule in advance. It assists candidates in planning and booking exam slots as per their schedule.
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Exam equipment: The most significant commonality is the requirement for precise, non-negotiable hardware and software needs to make sure a safe and stable testing environment.
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Examination Browser: Most of the institutions rely on the application to lock down the testing atmosphere. It deters students from using other applications, files or the internet during the time of exam. It has a great role in isolating proctoring and sustaining exam veracity.
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Slot booking: The students can undertake their schedule and book exam slots as on the portal. The links can be accessed on the website of the university.
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E-Admit Card: An e-admit card will be made available to the candidates on the portal once exam slots are booked.
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Exam: The exams are online proctored and can be taken by candidates from the expediency of their homes on an attuned device which encounters the needs.
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Answering Mechanism: The approach for responding to descriptive and numerical questions is standardized across universities, such as typing, math tool integration and no handwritten upload.
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Examination Submission: The examination submission includes options such as end test button, time restriction and final confirmation. The end submission process comprises precise steps to make sure that the test is completed.
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Evaluation and results: The exam submissions are assessed and, the results are declared and conveyed to the candidates. The candidates are supposed to attain a minimum percentage in order to pass exams.
Preferred Online Degree Courses in India
The online proctored exams in India are famous because of their flexibility and career significance. Any candidate can easily enhance their qualifications through undertaking online degree courses. As an outcome, earning potential can be increased along with the acquisition of new skills. It even advances chances professionally. There are even certain institutions offering placement with online courses. It inclines students towards promoting job-readiness. The online popular courses have been stated as:
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Online BA- This course is one of the most chosen courses, especially in India. It includes subjects such as languages, geography, sociology and social sciences.
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Online BBA- Online BBA offers in-depth training to candidates in accounting, finance, marketing, economics and business management.
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Online BCA- This course describes the basics of computer and software applications. The candidates pursuing BCA gets hands on practical concepts.
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Online BSc- This degree is precisely offered by several UGC approved institutions. The candidates can select from different specializations like Computer Science, AI and programming.
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Online MBA- MBA is an extensive comprehension of business management, finance, marketing and more. Any candidate with a bachelor’s degree is eligible to enrol in an online MBA.
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Online MSc- This degree concentrates on data science, mathematics, business analytics, statistics and information systems.
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Online MA- BA graduates can pursue an online MA. This 2-year course enables candidates to specialize in several areas.
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Online M.Com- B.com candidates are eligible to enhance their career aspects by chasing online M.Com course. The candidates can enhance their knowledge in areas such as banking, finance, accounting and more.
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Online Master’s in Law- An online law degree is provided to students by the prestigious institutes in India. After completing the course, candidates can initiate practising as advocates.
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Online B.Tech- This course offers flexible study options. Online B.Tech has several specializations and convincingly priced access.
Ways to prevent cheating in Online Exams
It has been observed that cheating can take place in the form of plagiarism, unlawful collaboration or candidates looking things up at the time of taking the exam. Such concern areas are exaggerated with online quizzes and exams.
Not all the candidates online behave with academic integrity, and the ones who do can even be put to the test in case they have not studied sufficiently or do not appropriately comprehend the course material and the courses. There are certain ways in which cheating in online education can be averted. The points stated below can be considered:
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The student’s cognisance can be increased on academic dishonesty. The candidates can be provided with a precise definition of cheating and a number of offensive behaviors.
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Online exam procedures for students can be used to control, such as offering an exam at one set time, exam accessibility for a limited period of time, like 15 minutes, sequence of questions to be randomized and more.
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Alternative assessment approaches to control student cheating and ways to conduct planned final exams online.
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Assignments and assessments for online candidates. The instructors can align test questions in assignments and assessment activities to the online learning experience.
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Encouraging community building will form a sense of belonging among candidates. It will enable them to be a part of the learning management system in the higher education framework.
In general well formed assessment frameworks in online degree programs not just uphold academic standards comparable to additional education but also boost accessibility and learner engrossment. If designed cautiously, such methods make sure that online education remains precise, fair and outcome oriented.
