Special Topic: Security Issues in Online Assessment

I took the opportunity of special topic to do little research on security issues in online assessment. This enabled me to look into the overall online learning process which is a two way communication between administration, instructor, technology, and learners. It is evident that security issues will arise in each of these communication channel.

Now, the Online Assessment tecniques can be categorized into many categories...Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Demonstrating Techniques, lSelf management, Information Access/Management, Demonstrating Knowledge, lDesigning/Creating, Communicating, and Teamwork and Collaboration are few of them.

All these techniques has their advantages. Ease of Distribution, Inexpensive, Timeliness, Provision of Feedback, Links to Tracking and management Systems, and Interactivity are few to name.

To talk about disadvantages.... Learner Isolation, Impersonality of Computerized Assessment, Uneven Access of Learners to Technology, Technical Problems, Learner Anxiety, Learners’ and Instructors Technical Skill Levels, and Fatigue are most common disadvantages.

Now, what kind of Security Issues can arise when we implement an online assessment technique...the list is evergrowing...with Impersonating, External Help, Technological Glitches, Poor Planning, Collaborating, Time Issues, and Misrepresentation are most common.

Solutions? No Real Solution Yet ! Right now some of the remedies include...Holding Proctored Examinations, Minimizing Objective Tests, Constraining Access to the Test Website, Embedding Quizzes into Exercises and Readings, and Randomizing questions. Also, we can consider online materials as Take-home Tests, Virtual Communitie's Reality Checks would help too. Some other solutions include Integrating Collaborative Elements, having Large Amount of Questions, Customized Questions, Timed Test, and using Better Technology like SSL (secures server link).

What lies in the future....Planning Issues have Exhausted...now we have to seek for more Technological Solutions that would include Increased Interactivity, Authentication System
like Video Surveillance and Biometrics. Most probably, that future is not far away.