2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

During the pandemic and after it, taking in-person exams has become tricky as there is always a higher possibility that there will be a student or two who will be absent due to possible infection or exposure to infected people. This has been especially problematic during the final exams (particular during the fall semester due to higher infection rates in cold weather) as missing it means that the student will get an incomplete grade. Further the makeup exam will usually take place during the following semester at which time the students may have lost a critical touch with the course material and will be busy with the other courses. In any case, the course material is not as fresh as at the end of the semester. Therefore, it creates a hardship for the students. Based on my teaching experience of almost 20 years, a makeup final exam in the following semester mostly affects the grade negatively for the student.
This paper will present results on the development and execution of online exams in Blackboard environment, which can be administered with minimum or no proctoring at all. Details of how to develop such exams along with analysis of grades achieved by the students in two different undergraduate engineering courses will be presented. It is concluded that this is an effective way of taking exams while overcoming any hurdles due to possible illnesses of the students. This approach also has some additional benefits such as the students are able to take the exam at their best time and lengthier exams may be given for the courses requiring it.