Improving E-Assessment Based on University Students’ Experiences

ABSTRACT

The application of electronic assessments (e-assessment) has become inevitable with the expansion of distance education, and learners’ perceptions should be considered when designers improve the system to meet their needs and facilitate their acceptance of the system. This mixed descriptive study investigated university students’ perceptions about e-assessment system. Data were collected from 308 students at King Saud University during the second semester of 2021, by using a questionnaire that consisted of 34 Likert scale items and two open-ended questions on students’ opinions. The results showed the suitability of e-assessment to the university courses, and the importance of rendering guidance to students before the e-exam by providing a user manual, mock exam, and furnishing clear instructions; ensuring flexibility of use; supplying quick academic and technical support during the e-test; and providing immediate feedback to increase students’ motivation and learning retention. The findings highlighted students’ concerns regarding the type of exam questions, cheating, and techniques of monitoring and verifying their identities. These findings expected to guide administrators, decision makers, researchers, and system developers to design or customize some features of assessment systems for the achieving best practice of evaluation and measurement of higher education students.