Bring-Your-Own-Laptop Open Book Examination for a Large

Class – Fears, Tears and Joy

BuzzEd 20148 January 2014

General Biology – LSM1301

• Offered in Semesters 1 and 2, and Special Term• Final examination• Open-book format• Multiple-choice questions

• Semester 1• 650 to 800 students• Bridging module – Life Sciences majors without A-Level

Biology• Breadth module – any student without A-Level Biology

General Biology – LSM1301

• Teaching since AY2003/04• Incremental innovations and changes every semester

• Semester 1 AY2013/14• Bring-your-own-laptop final examination• Smaller enrolment – 672 students

Why?

• Reflection of how problems are solved in real-life• Open-book exam• Internet searches

• Use of multimedia• Colour figures• Videos and animations

• Use of softcopy reference materials• Softcopy notes• Webcast recordings

• Automated marking and generation of statistics

Timeline

• January 2013• Forum on Technology Enhanced Learning for Faculty and

Students

• May 2013• Contacted CIT – Jeffery Tay

• Early June 2013• Sought clearance from Registrar’s Office• Through Faculty of Science• Through department

• Late June 2013• Green light from Vice-Provost

Timeline

• July 2013• Explore venues at University Town

• Late September 2013• Meeting with CIT and Registrar’s Office

• Early November 2013• Trial run and mock examination

• Late November 2013• Actual examination

Challenges

• 100% consent from students• Change of examination date – 27 Nov to 22 Nov

• Infrastructural constraints• Two-batch examination – logistical nightmare• Wifi – limitation on multimedia-based questions

• Logistical support• Invigilators and proctors – 2.5 hrs to 5.5 hrs• Loan laptops• Security – cordons and movement

Trial Run and Mock Examination

• Saturday, 9 November• Schedule clashes• ‘Everything that could go wrong, went wrong!’• Abandon ship (?)

• Aftermath• Flurry of e-mails and queries• CIT swarmed• ‘Kiasu’ plans

Actual Examination (Fri, 22 Nov)

• 2.00 – 2.30 pm• Batch 1 students report to examination venues,

surrender mobile devices, setup laptops

• 2.30 – 4.30 pm• Batch 1 examination

• 4.00 – 4.30 pm• Batch 2 students report to quarantine venue

• 4.30 – 5.00 pm• Batch 1 students move to quarantine venue• Batch 2 students move to examination venues

Actual Examination (Fri, 22 Nov)

• 5.00 – 6.00 pm• Batch 1 students under quarantine

• 5.00 – 7.00 pm• Batch 2 examination

• 6.00 pm• Dismissal of Batch 1 students

• 7.00 pm• Dismissal of Batch 2 students

Suggestions

• Single-batch examination• No quarantine and movement of students

• Wired internet access• Softcopy notes and more multimedia

• Better communication• Students informed before semester starts

• Improved logistics• Proper examination-ready venues• Proper cordon and security support

Acknowledgments

• Dr Posa, Mary Rose Cervantes• Dr Carrasco Torrecilla, L

Roman• Dr Hwang Wei Song• Dr Jose Christopher Escano

Mendoza• Dr Lim Lek Min, Matthew• Dr Ng Ngan Kee• Dr Wu Jinlu• Ms Cai Hongxia

• Ms Chua Ling Lih• Ms Jacqueline Lim Siau Yen• Ms Law Sze Joo, Sylvia• Ms Low Yi Lian• Ms Xu Weiting• Ms Cecilia Larrosa• Mr Dushan Nawoda

Wadduwage• Ms Lu Ning• Mr Xiao Sheng Ping

Acknowledgments

• Mr Jeffery Tay• Ms Wu Haixin• Mr Chan Yuhao• Mr Jummain• Mr Lee Kunliang• Ms Leong Miew Cheng• Ms Lin Kay Thwe Oo• Mr Mohamad Aidil Bin

Mohamed Ali

• Mr Xiang Junjie• Ms Yasmin Binte

Musthafa• Ms Jamila Osman• Ms Liew Hui Fen• Mr Lim Wee Keong• Mr Sim Yew Teck• Ms Suen,Hilda• LSM1301 Students