Paper-Based versus Computer-Based Testing in Engineering Education
Date
2010-04-14
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IEEE EDUCON Education Engineering 2010 – The Future of Global Learning Engineering Education
Abstract
Using computers for assessment can provide
several benefits for educators and test-takers. However, in
the literature, there is no consensus on the equivalence of
paper-and-pencil and computer-based test environments.
Accordingly, more evidences are needed especially for the
engineering education. In this study, students’ performance
on different test modes was evaluated on 209 first year
engineering students of a chemistry course. The results of
this study showed that, there is no significant performance
difference between paper-and-pencil and computer based
tests. By comparing results with the previous studies, this
study concludes that, personal characteristics of test takers,
the features of computer-based testing systems and the test
content are all possible confounding factors when comparing
test modes and need to be considered by the implementers.
The results of this study show that, once these factors are
controlled, students’ performance on computer-based tests
and paper-and-pencil tests in chemistry courses for the
engineering students will not vary. This finding is
encouraging the educators to get benefits of computer-based
tests without any affect on students’ performance.
Description
Keywords
software