Online Written and Oral Exams

TL;DR

The engineering class uses two major assessments: an online written exam and a 15-to-20-minute oral exam. Students receive 3 to 4 days for the open-book, open-internet written exam, which prohibits collaboration and mixes multiple-choice, essay, and calculation questions. The oral portion is a structured discussion held in person or through platforms such as Skype, WebEx, or Google Hangouts. Read on for details about their format, purpose, and logistics.

Transcript

So at the end of the class, there are really two major forms of assessment. One is an online written exam, which is an exam where the questions and the way to submit the answers is fully online. And that link is unveiled, and then I give three to four days for the students to answer this exam. It is an open book, open internet exam. They can use an... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪸 The engineering class assessment consists of an online written exam and an oral exam.
• 😒 The online written exam allows students to use any materials but not collaborate with others.
• 🤔 The exam progresses in difficulty, challenging students to think critically and connect the material to real-world situations.
• 💁 The oral exam can be conducted in person or through online platforms and involves a discussion rather than a traditional exam format.
• 👻 Current affairs are incorporated into the exams to allow students to apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
• 🈴 The online exam is efficient for grading and pattern analysis.
• 🧑‍🎓 The oral exam provides a platform for students to engage with the material and have a dialogue with instructors and teaching assistants.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the two major forms of assessment in the engineering class?

The class ends with an online written exam and an oral exam. The written exam checks individual learning with course materials available, while the oral exam lets students discuss and engage with the material alongside instructors and teaching assistants.

Q: What is the format of the online written exam?

The questions and answer submissions are fully online, using a mechanism such as Google Forms. The exam combines multiple-choice questions, essay questions, and calculations.

Q: How much time do students have to complete the online written exam?

Students receive 3 to 4 days to answer the exam after its link is unveiled. It is an individual exam, so they may use materials but may not collaborate.

Q: Is the online written exam open book?

Yes, it is an open-book and open-internet exam, and students may use any materials they want. Collaboration is not allowed, although the instructor says there is no formal way to check for it.

Q: How does the online exam become more difficult?

It begins with easy questions that students can answer by consulting readings, course materials, or textbooks. It then moves through interpretive questions to harder tasks, including a calculation with a non-obvious answer that tests whether students will question unrealistic requirements.

Q: How does the written exam connect engineering concepts to real-world events?

The final question asks about systems-engineering issues students may have encountered in the news. Examples include the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery problems, which students connect to topics taught in class.

Q: How is the oral exam conducted?

The oral exam lasts 15 to 20 minutes per student and can take place in person or through Skype, WebEx, or Google Hangouts. It is structured more as a discussion than a classical exam, with questions designed to promote dialogue and engagement.

Q: How are oral exam appointments organized?

The instructor typically reserves one or two full days for oral exams. Students select an online sign-up slot and appear at the scheduled time, either in person or over the web.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The assessment in the engineering class consists of an online written exam that allows students to use any materials they want but not collaborate with others.

• The online exam includes a mix of multiple-choice questions, essay questions, and calculations.

• The assessment also includes an oral exam, which can be conducted in person or through online platforms like Skype or WebEx.